'We are forced to play in a farm' - Makhwengwe
Kabelo Boranabi | Wednesday February 6, 2019 14:56
The Reds, after losing 2-0 in the first leg against cross town rivals, Township Rollers had requested the second leg to be played at a different venue, with the Molepolole and Lobatse sports venues, as options. However, the competition’s Organising Committee turned down the club’s request.
The decision did not sit well with Makhwengwe as he blasted the officials for forcing 'teams to play in a farm'.
'I would be playing on a pitch where I would not be able to express myself. I am going to kick the ball; I do not like to hoof the ball. I should have been playing at home, but now I will be away, home away from home. That is pressure on its own. We are not going to Lobatse or Molepolole, but we are going to the same farm. We will (have) to launch the ball up front and that is pressure,' he said.
'I want to give the BFA (Botswana Football Association) (good) football. I want to give the supporters, the sponsors and the media (good) football and I would not be able to express myself over there, that's a good facility for an environmentalist not for football,' he said. Moyagoleele has been using both the Lobatse and Molepolole Sports Complexes for the majority of their home games this season while Popa's home games are played at the National Stadium.
The two teams met at the big stadium a fortnight ago, and the state of the pitch was roundly condemned. The pitch took beating following the AUSC Region V Games held in December and has failed to recover. It is the second time that coaches have complained about the pitch after Notwane's former coach David Kopi and Rollers' Thabo Motang said the pitch was not suitable to play football.
Meanwhile, the four teams in the semifinals have promised to attract multitudes to the stands. Local football has seen numbers decrease on the stands, but the Top 8 competition has proven to be enticing to the fans hence club officials are looking to capitalise.