Njobvu Hattrick Sinks Lions
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday December 19, 2016 12:40
His goals ensured his side go into the festive break at the top of the league table.
The game, which was re-scheduled for 8pm kick-off started 30 minutes later after Lions showed up late. The visitors arrived straight into the pitch and did not enjoy the luxury of a warm up. However, they produced a spirited start and surprised The Ostriches with threatening attacks in the opening minutes.
The home side soaked up Lions and slowly worked themselves back into the game. A minute before the half hour mark Njobvu broke the deadlock. Lions’ Tumisang Sekanonyane misjudged the flight of a long ball into the box.
With a killer instinct, Njobvu pounced and looped the attacking goalkeeper to hand his side the lead.
Eight minutes later Njobvu made it two with a brilliant individual display. He controlled the ball in front of the box, turned the defender, dribbled past another and powered a low shot to the bottom right.
Just before the break, Unobatsha Mbaiwa threw his side a lifeline pulling one back but all thanks to a poor clearance from Orapa United goalkeeper. Kaelo Joseph’s clearance fell for Mbaiwa in front of the box. He took a delicate outside foot curler on a half volley into an empty net.
From the dugout, the two sides struggled to link passes in a waterlogged pitch but it was the visitors who were more industrious but lacked the sting upfront. Against the run of play, Orapa United were awarded a penalty in the 66th minute when a defender handled the ball inside the box but new talisman, Tendai Nyumasi missed the spot kick.
He nearly made up for it with a classy effort six minute later. Nyumasi showed his silky skills on the left side of the box. While the goalkeeper was caught in no man’s land, he quickly turned the defender and took a curler to the far post and it was nipped off the line.
Two minutes after that, Njobvu grabbed his third of the night. He outrun Sekanonyane and controlled next to the by-line on the left side. From that awkward position he curled and slotted while the goalkeeper, who left his line, was anticipating a cross.
His coach Madinda Ndlovu was impressed with his killer instincts. “He (Njobvu) is coming up strong and he is the first player for us to hit a hattrick. We are happy for him,” he said. Ndlovu said the win was very important ahead of the break.
“We wanted to finish at the top so that our players will keep focused and will want to come back and finish the job. This team (Lions) disturbed our campaign last season and we wanted to win by hook or crook. We are happy with the three points.”
His Gilport Lions counterpart, Paradzayi Mandivenga said they will keep up the fight despite the turmoil at the club. “We lost against a very good side today in a very frantic encounter but we are happy with our overall performance. We are currently working under a very frustrating situation I must say but we are a team and we will continue to stick together through thick and thin.”
The line-ups:
Orapa United: Kaelo Joseph, Kealeboga Molebatsi, Thabang Mosige, Emmanuel Nlu, Lesenya Ramoraka, Kemmy Pilato, Ronald Chikomo, Tendai Nyumasi (Obonye Moswate), Lemogang Maswena, Patrick Lenyeletse (Lovemore Murirwa)
Gilport Lions: Lesego Bosekeng, Thabo Mhlanga, Mosimanegape Ntwaetsile, Tumisang Sekanonyane, Thabo Mothibi, Sekgabo Molebatsi, Patrick Kaunda (Topo Piet), Matthews Nyamadzawo, Kenanao Kgetholetsile, Kabelano Mooketsane, Unobatsha Mbaiwa
Cautions: Molebatsi, Pilato, Chikomo, Njobvu, Sekanonyane
Orapa United 3 (Ndjovu 29th, 37th, 74th)
Gilport Lions 1 (Mbaiwa 46th)