Limping young Zebras beat Namibia

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Monday October 11, 2010 00:00

 

The poorly-attended encounter found the young Zebras limping due to the absence of some key players in defender Thato 'Yellow' Bolwelweng and strikers Mogakolodi 'Tsotso' Ngele and Hendrick Moyo. The former two have an impending issue before the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Disciplinary Committee and have since been suspended by their club, Uniao Flamengo Santos, while Moyo missed the game due to unavailability of his passport. The young striker has been in scintillating form for his club - Extension Gunners - and had coach Daniel 'Chico' Nare fuming at the end of the game after the team missed multiple scoring chances in the game. Moyo apparently lost his passport three weeks ago after going to Mafikeng, South Africa, to play in some games without club permission.

As for the match, the young Zebras looked unsettled in the middle of the park where the Namibians were dictating the terms. The visitors managed to settle well into the game before the home side, testing young Zebras' goalie Kabelo Dambe with several shots in the opening minutes of the game. The young Dambe had to apply some delaying tactics to allow the coach to talk to the team in the hope they would find their rhythm. Finally, the home side found the all-important first goal to restore their composure. The only goal of the match came in the 20th minute through a neat header by Ofentse Nato following a corner by Odirile Kgaodi. The towering Gaborone United (GU) and Zebras midfielder's solitary goal made him the saviour of his team after passing a late fitness test in the build-up to the game against galloping Namibians.

The goal injected life into the home side as they began to exchange passes going forward, only to be let down by some poor finishing. In the absence of Moyo and Ngele, Nare had to opt for Notwane's Lemogang Maswena who struggled as a lone striker upfront. The wingers tried hard creating chances but none resulted in a goal. The visitors, however, did not fall back as they also pushed hard for an equaliser. The young Zebras' defence looked shaky and was often rescued by the acrobatics of Township Rollers' goalie, Dambe. The home side pleaded for a penalty towards the end of the first half after Maswena was fouled in the box but Tanzanian referee Waziri Sheha was indecisive before pointing for a goal kick.

The young Zebras came from the break rejuvenated and attacked with renewed vigour but their finishing on the day was atrocious. Speedy winger Kgololo Leteane was particularly outstanding in this half, switching wings, creating multiple chances and trying shots at goal. Namibia coach Ricardo Manetti made a few changes in search of an equaliser and the move nearly produced fruit as the game see-sawed, but neither side found the back of the net until the final whistle.

Speaking to Sport Monitor at the end of the game, Nare said the team played with rhythm, but it was still disorganised hence they struggled to settle down.

'We created many chances but missed them, which is not good. I am, however, happy for the win. We will have a good game plan in the return leg which we hope will bring us positive results,' Nare said. For his part, Manetti blamed the loss on errors committed by his young charges, which gave the Young Zebras some confidence to come at them. He said he is positive he will make amends while in Windhoek. 'We will by then have rectified the errors we committed today,' he said. The return leg will be played in Windhoek next month.

Team line-ups:Botswana - Dambe, Simisane Mathumo, Kaelo Kgaswane, Gofaone Molapi, Gaopatwe Seosenyeng, Kabo Rasuping, Nato, Kgaodi (Galabgwe Moyana 62), Motsholetsi Sikele (Ntesang Simanyana 70) , Leteane, Maswena.Coach: Nare

Namibia - Vries Virgil, Horaeb Larry, Wilbard Sakeus, Isaak Gusta, Claasen Tariq,Haosed Densil (Tjazengoro Ikwaterwo 50), Emilio Martin, Kamuhanga Eslin, Hundura Alfeus, Vrikhob Sadneu ( Stephaneus Willu 50), Tsowaseb Theophilus (Katjieo Roger 80).

 Coach: Manetti

Cautions: Maswena 32Man of the Match: Kgololo LeteaneReferee: Waziri Sheha1st Assistant referee: John Wanyenyeand Hamis Changwalu4th official: Mbaga Charles (all from Tanzania)

Match rating: 7/10