Forest Further Slow Chiefs� Progress

Kabelo Boranabi | Monday March 13, 2017 16:12

 

Magosi who were fresh from a 3-1 loss to Police XI, were without captain Lesego Galenamotlhale and talisman Tendai Nyamadzawo who are both nursing injuries. Forest and Chiefs went into the game in sixth and eighth positions respectively and from the first whistle, showed intentions to keep their top eight positions.

The first 10 minutes did not produce clear goal scoring chances. In the 15th minute, Kagiso Bodigelo sent a telling cross into the box only to be missed by Jerome Ramatlhakwana. The ball fell to Absalom Limbondi, the Namibian prodding the ball past keeper Michael James to give Chiefs the lead. The goal proved to be the only chance at goal as both teams failed to connect well in front of respective penalty areas. Chiefs took a one goal lead into the break.

Forest took the game to Chiefs from the start of the second half as they searched for an equaliser. Four minutes into the half, Onneile Sebapalo tried Noah Maposa from outside the box but the keeper conceded a corner. The Forest pressure prompted Chiefs’ Bongani Mafu to replace Bodigelo with defender Gaopatwe Seosenyeng nine minutes in to the second half.

In the 58th minute, Lynoth Chikuwa who proved to be a thorn on the Chiefs’ defence, laid back a cross for on-rushing Gofaone Mabaya whose shot was cleared by the defence. In the 70th minute, Chikuwa levelled matters as he beat Maposa from a tight angle. Five minutes later, substitute Thomas Modiradilo’s shot was put over the bar by Maposa. Wellington Maposa missed a glorious moment to give his team the lead as his free header from Modiradilo’s cross missed the goal by inches.

Chiefs managed to fend off Forest attacks as they settled for a draw. “I am impressed (with the performance) but I am not that happy that we could not win the game. A draw against Chiefs, I would not cry much as they are an experienced team,” said Forest’s coach, Rapelang ‘Razor’ Tsatsilebe. His opposite number, Chiefs’ Mafu bemoaned lack of proper preparations prior to the match as the reason his team could not win the match. “After last week’s loss we were sad. We needed to work harder and this week we almost had 90% training schedule. If training is run as planned we would have been better,” he said.

 

The teams:

Forest: Michael James, Goabaone Mogorosi, Tonderai Nyakuba, Basiamisi Sebapalo, Maikano Maikano (Wellington Maposa), Onneile Sebapalo, Koketso Majafi, Gofaone Mabaya, Emmanuel Kegosele (Thomas Modiradilo), Thatayaone Kgamayaone, Lynoth Chikuwa (Tiro Pheresi)

Chiefs: Noah Maposa, Othusitse Pilane, Thato Kebue, Charles Mutero, Katlego Koobake, Lesego Molemogi, Odirile Kgaodi (Thatayaone Ramatlapeng), Dirang Moloi (Goitseone Legopelo), Kagiso Bodigelo (Gaopatwe Seosenyeng), Absalom Limbondi, Jerome Ramatlhakwana

Cautions: Koobake, James, Mogorosi

 

Forest 1 (Chikuwa 70th) 

Chiefs 1 (Limbondi 15th)