Sharps Maintain Perfect Record
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Monday September 3, 2018 11:24
Tshepo Malagas scored the only goal of the match with seven minutes remaining.
Sharps have now won all their three matches this season. With Jerome Ramatlhakwana out of action with an injury, Orapa United pinned their hopes on Omaatla Kebatho in front to get the goals. Kebatho combined well with Kobamelo Kebaikanye in the middle of the first half but his final shot narrowly went wide. Few minutes later, Orapa United were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and Kebaikanye hit the cross bar. Sharps absorbed the pressure with Orapa United asking too many questions towards the end of the first half.
Early in the second half, Orapa United brought in Lemogang Maswena in place of Onkemetse Powe to try and open Sharps on the wings.
However, it was Sharps who got the first real chance in the second half. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Letlhogonolo Chenjela shot straight at the advancing Bophelo Kealeboga with better option having been to chip over.
Sharps started asking their own questions and Kealeboga was forced to make another save, this time from a freekick. Malagas finally broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute following a good run and composure in the box. They nearly doubled the lead three minutes later when Khumoetsile Kufigwa beat the defence with skill and power but his effort went narrowly wide, much to the relief of Orapa United supporters. Sharps coach, Kentse Motlhale was delighted with his charges’ display and said everything went according to plan. “We knew Orapa United normally dominate on the ball so we decided to put a block in front of the defence so that they were not able to penetrate us easily. Our plan was to avoid conceding a goal in the first half and I am glad that we managed to achieve that,” he said.
He said despite having registered a 100% record so far, they will not get carried away easily. He said the target for now will be to finish in a better position than they did last season. Orapa United coach, Bongani Mafu said their plan was disrupted when they lost a defender, early in the game through an injury.
He said that affected their plan, which was to introduce a creative midfielder, Tendai Nyumasi later in the game. “We missed a lot of chances. The season has just started and the team that we have built is very strong. We need to relax and approach our games without too much panic,” he said.
The teams:
Sharps: Thabiso Mathe, Bakani Madaiza, Kufigwa, Malgas, Gift Maworere, Chenjela (Falkirk Shabane), Kago Segokgo, Monageng Thaele, Tebogo Benjamin, Onneile Sebapalo (Allen Ndodole), Emmanuel Nlu
Orapa United: Bophelo Kealeboga, Kealeboga Molebatsi, Kabo Mungabe (Olekantse Mambo), Thabang Mosige, Mothusi Johnson, Tapiwa Nyamanjiva, Baboloki Makhura, Powe (Lemogang Maswena), Omaatla Kebatho (Christian Epoupa), Kebaikanye, Gofaone Mabaya
Cautions: Molebatsi, Maworere
Sharps 1 (Malagas 83rd)
Orapa United 0