TAFIC Ease Relegations Woes
Lebogang Mosikare | Monday April 16, 2018 12:11
Customarily, Chiefs are expected to whip their subjects but the opposite happened when TAFIC, also known as Matchimenyenga to its hordes of fans, defeated Chiefs. This is a win that surely placed them in a better position to escape the dreaded relegation axe.
TAFIC collected three points to move to 28 points from 26 games and leapfrogged Police XI in the process which lost to Black Forest. TAFIC’s coach, Kentse ‘Blazer’ Motlhale was happy with the win saying it will ease pressure from players in the coming games.
“We are very happy about the results. It will ease the pressure from us going forward but we will not relax. We missed a lot of chances and we will go back to the drawing board to try to rectify our mistakes especially missing golden opportunities like we did today. We always miss chances that we could have easily scored in many games,” he said.
The game started at high tempo with both teams exchanging neat passes and in the seventh minute, Thato Ogopotse hit the crossbar with a well-taken shot. The game, which attracted a few fans, got hotter when TAFIC’s Kgosietsile Ernest dribbled past a number of Chiefs players but shot at the legs of Chiefs goal minder Siamang Kgosipula. TAFIC were rewarded in the 29th minute when Uyapo Thibathuwe scored from a defence-splitting pass from Ernest. TAFIC could have extended the lead on the 38th minute, but Onkemetse Powe missed a golden opportunity because of lack of composure with only the goalkeeper to beat.
TAFIC missed another golden opportunity in the 45th minute when Mbatshi Elias dribbled past a host of Chiefs defenders, but shot wide with only Kgosipula to beat. The game continued at the same tempo in the second half and in the 50th minute TAFIC’s Kawashu Makai shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Chiefs also missed a glorious chance when Thatayaone Ramatlapeng, who was a thorn in TAFIC’s defence shot wide with only the net begging. Khumoetsile Kufigwa equalised on the 60th minute after benefiting from sloppy defence from TAFIC defenders. The equaliser was short-lived as TAFIC’s Makai converted from the penalty spot after substitute Othusitse Pilane was adjudged to have fouled Elias inside the box. Elias could have buried Chiefs on the 84th minute, but his header hit the cross bar.
Chiefs’ assistant coach, Pontsho Moloi bemoaned the lack of composure in front of goals as their downfall. “We created a lot of chances but failed to convert them. We will go back to the drawing board to try to solve our mistakes,” said a disappointed Moloi.
The teams:
TAFIC: Lesego Bosekeng, Kgosietsile Ernest, Thato Mosweu, Bokamoso Mbambo, Gobonyeone Selefa, Kerapetse Mosimanekgosi, Onkemetse Powe, Molebatsi Kangangwani, Kawashu Makai, Uyapo Thibathuwe
Centre Chiefs: Siamang Kgosipula, Katlego Koobake, Keabetswe Jenamiso, Trinity Nko, Lawrence Majawa, Ronald Borake, Thato Ogopotse, Khumoetsile Kufigwa, Koketso Majafi, Thatayaone Ramatlapeng
TAFIC 2 (Thibathuwe 29th, Makai 65th pen)
Chiefs 1 (Kufigwa 60th)