The going gets tough for GU

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 27, 2010 00:00

 

Moyagoleele are trailing by three goals after a 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Dynamos last Sunday in Harare. They will now have to score three goals without conceding to qualify for the group stages of the competition for the first time.

However, going by the performance in Harare, GU needs a major transformation in fortunes to overcome Dynamos and enter the lucrative group stage. The major undoing of the Reds in Harare was the defence, which left coach David Bright a fuming man at the end of the game at the National Sports Stadium. Moyagoleele's backline has been very shaky lately even in the be MOBILE Premier League where they are currently struggling for a top eight finish.

The defence has often committed unnecessary mistakes that cost them important points in the league. The situation has not been helped by erratic goalkeeping by veteran Kgosietsile Senjoba who has been accused of conceding easy goals. The goalkeeper spent most of last season on the bench but he has since overtaken Raphael Nthwane to be the first.

Against Dynamos, the goalkeeper and his defenders let the team down after Steven Maposa gave GU an early lead. Bright admitted in the post match interview that his defence was very sluggish and committed 'silly' mistakes that cost them dearly. The partnership of former Under-23 defenders Gobonyeone Selefa and Tumisang Sekanonyane in central midfield was disastrous as the two are often slow and indecisive. This was exploited when Dynamos scored the second goal. The two players were spectators when an unmarked Benjamin Marere scored for DeMbare. Captain Branco Molokwane, who played a key role in the historic elimination of Orlando Pirates in the preliminary round was not himself on Sunday. He allowed strikers too much space with the ball and this ultimately led to the third goal. Except for evergreen right back Gabriel Bokhutlo who was always equal to the task, the GU rearguard was in shambles. On Sunday, the Reds' defenders were perhaps lucky that DeMbare dangerman Cuthbert Malajila who is on loan from army side Chapungu did not play. The deadly striker was not fielded because of differences between Chapungu and Dynamos.

GU will hope for the best when key midfielder Ofentse 'Size 10' Nato who missed the first leg makes a return after serving a one-match suspension. The player has been going through a slight drop of form but he can be very influential as he is an effective linkman between the defence and attack. Bright will probably have to give bully striker Mpho Mabogo a run in the second leg. Mabogo was watching the game from the stands with Nato in Harare. He has had a very disappointing spell at Moyagoleele since crossing over from Mochudi Centre Chiefs at the start of the season. However, as Bright said in Harare: 'This is the game of football and anything can happen when we get to Botswana'. Moyagoleele may defy history and eliminate DeMbare, a side that has never failed to qualify for the group stages of the competition.