Zapata Slams �Small Team� Sankoyo After Draw
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday February 13, 2017 15:51
GU coach, Rodolfo Zapata immediately slammed his opponents, accusing them of having a ‘small team mentality’.
The Reds came into the game beaming with confidence as they beat their opponents 3-1 in the first round tie played in Maun. However, they were shaken in the fourth minute as the visitors got an early goal after Tshepo Maikano hit his own net.
There was miscommunication between Maikano and Goitseone Phoko. The defender tried to play the ball back to the keeper with his chest but Phoko was metres away from the goal line. The home side tried to reply but could not hit the net with Thato Ogopotse and Obonye Maome coming close in the seventh and 19th minutes. GU controlled much of the first half with Akakulubelwa Mwachiaba’s 34th minute telling cross headed wide by Tumisang Orebonye. The latter redeemed himself a minute later as he scored after a scramble in the box to level matters. The teams went into the break locked at 1-1.
At the start of the second half, GU continued with their attacking play while the visitors sat back and looked to catch their opponents on the break. In the 56th minute, Botshelo Mafoko who was a thorn on the GU defence beat two defenders and laid to Onkagetse Mojwane who shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
Karabo Phiri missed a golden opportunity to give GU the lead as he skied his effort inside the box after Kabelo Kuti parried Maome’s cross back in to play. Two minutes later, substitute Jeffery Sekapite was denied his first goal in GU colours as the referee called the effort for offside. The draw comes after GU’s loss to Township Rollers the previous weekend.
Moyagoleele’s coach, Zapata rued missed chances and slammed his opponents for having a small team mentality. “We created many chances. We could not convert; that’s how it has been the whole season. We were playing against a small team who continued to waste time and fake injuries,” he said. His opposite number Sankoyo’s Dragojlo Stanojlovic was happy to take one point away from home. “GU are a very good team, tactically they are the best. I told my players before the game that we should get a point from the game or three if possible. I am very happy to get a point,” he said.
The line-ups:
GU: Goitseone Phoko, Kabelo Seakanyeng, Godwin Bonsu, Tshepo Maikano, Gosegonna Molapisi, Thato Ogopotse, Lerato Botshelo (Jeffery Sekapite), Obonye Maome, Karabo Phiri, Akakulubelwa Mwachiaba (Jackson Lesole), Tumisang Orebonye
Bush Bucks: Kabelo Kuti, Bobby Ntshegisang, Okarabile Ratanang (Kediemetse Radikoko), Moabi Sebele, Moagi Sechele, Kabo Matlhare, Walter Sande, Wabuya Aebe, Onkagetse Mojwane, Onofile Setsiba (Gaongalelwe Dipateletso), Botshelo Mafoko (Oabile Bathusi)