Magosi Redeem Dented Pride

TSHEPO MOLWANE
Staff Writer | Monday May 7, 2007 00:00

 

Despite missing the services of key striker Jerome Ramatlhakwana due to injury, Chiefs were unstoppable. In the absence of Ramatlhakwana, nippy striker Pontsho Moloi and Steven Maposa led the onslaught with outstanding success. Moloi opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a curling effort, which beat Police XI goalkeeper Jackson Legodi hands down. Credit has to go to Maposa who brilliantly set up the goal.
With Police XI's most experienced players Therisanyo Haake and Ditaola Ditaola starting on the bench, the Jungle Kings struggled in midfield. Chiefs' goalkeeper Raphael Nthwane was first tested in the 14th minute but easily dealt with Ndiapo Letsholathebe's free-kick. Chiefs continued with their search for goals and went 2-0 up in the 18th minute when Maposa headed home from Aaron Kale's corner. Magosi supporters went into wild celebrations and urged the players on. Maposa could have completed his brace in the 32nd minute but shot tamely at the goalkeeper. At the other end, Police XI striker Justin Bwalya headed over the bar from close range. The defending champions were forced to make double substitutions in the 35th minute by bringing in Haake and Ditaola for the ineffective Tebogo Sebina and Tshepiso Kgosiemang but the move failed to pay dividends. Chiefs went 3-0 up in the 44th minute when Moloi turned two defenders to slot home. This was the striker's 14th goal of the season. It makes him one of the contenders for the Golden Boot Award. Had he been patient enough, he would have scored more. Chiefs were comfortably leading 3-0 at halftime.
Police XI came back from the break trying to reduce the deficit but their efforts were thwarted by the uncompromising Chiefs' rearguard. Chiefs' stand-in captain Gobonyeone 'Shoes' Selefa had an outstanding game in defence. Haake and Dennis Kaelo tried their best but found Nthwane hard to beat. In the 79th minute, Police XI defence was exposed but the goalkeeper pulled a save from Maposa. In the 89th minute, Moloi failed to get a hat-trick when he balooned the ball over the bar. Substitute Molatlhegi 'Teenage' Podile completed the routing in referee's optional time when he scored from outside the box with Police XI goalkeeper stranded.
Chiefs' coach Mike Sithole applauded his team for playing brilliant football. 'It was a good response after the recent slump. Even the players who have been in the fringes showed great spirit,' he told Monitor Sport.
Police XI coach Sthanda Mogwadi said their defence was shaky and they failed to vary their play. 'It was always going to be difficult to come from a 3-0 deficit. In the second half, we tried but we were in too much of a hurry,' he said.
In another game played in Selebi-Phikwe, Township Rollers returned to action with a 3-1 win over struggling FC Satmos. At the Galaxy Stadium,  TASC beat Lobtrans Gunners
2-1.