Chikumba's Calendar Stars Dispatch All Stars
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday December 10, 2018 13:56
Vincent Chikumba charges had little to no pressure as they settled well into the game at the All Stars ground known for its perennial low turnouts.
Calendar had two decent shots at goal in the opening five minutes.
However, their best chance was an eighth-minute free kick on the right edge of the box.
Rebaone Motlhabane’s shot was blocked for a corner. Three minutes later, Motlhabane saw his other free kick from 30 yards go inches past the left upright.
On the quarter hour, the defender Onkarabile Caiphus’s long pass from the back released Gaolefufa Mosala who became one-on-one with the keeper, but Mosala’s connection disappointedly went over the bar.
All Stars had the ball in the middle of the park, but were clamped down to make any meaningful manoeuvres upfront.
Their attacking midfielders and wingers were not linking with the striking force and often drew the two top men deep into the midfield.
They had a great chance from the first corner of the half on top of the half-hour mark.
Tjinoveni Mongendje climbed high and redirected Kenaleope Mochai’s corner with a powerful header that almost kissed the crossbar.
From the break, Calendar continued exhibiting superiority of experience over the rookies.
It took them 10 minutes from the whistle to burst the dam. A loose ball fell for Petros Jackalas inside the box, and he drilled a clinical finish into the bottom far corner.
It could have been two in two minutes.
After a wondrous combination with Mosala, Jackalas set Simon Motlogi against the goalkeeper, but his lofted effort was too much and went over the bar.
Calendar were more enterprising on wing attack and they had good ball retention the entire half.
All Stars, on the other hand, were chasing the wind and desperate for an equaliser.
They pumped long passes upfront, but their two strikers Boitumelo Leagetse and Kesiametswe Lebalang were struggling to combine.
A rueful Chikumba bemoaned causality and lack of finishing.
“We wasted chances in the first half, but we had the best chances in the second half. We could have scored two or three (goals) and played comfortably. We are good on the ball, but we are not clinical enough,” he said.
His All Stars counterpart, Nonofo Mhutsiwa said the weekend break set them off the wheels after their glorious win against Motlakase.
“It set the players off. Now it is back to getting these youngsters to a winning mode and then we can look for consistency. Otherwise, we are not threatened, (we) will keep challenging.”
The Teams:
All Stars: Meshack Rest, Moagi Moatshe, Mochai, Mongendje, Botsile Morotsi, Mothusi Kenosi, Tebogo Matontshe (Thapelo Thabiwa), Onthusitse Onkabetse, Boitumelo Leagetse, Lebalang, Kitso Dintwa
Calendar: Nsala Mosinyi, Chebukani Pilato, Caiphus, Maikano Macheng, Gothusamang Osego, Mathogonolo Manko, Future Murirwa, Jacklas, Motlhabane, Motlogi, Mosala (Olebogeng Sekani)
Cautions: Mongendje, Caiphus, Osego
All Stars 0
Calendar 1 (Jackalas 55th)