Boteti Eliminate GU

MOGOMOTSI MOLOI
Correspondent | Monday August 6, 2007 00:00

 

Speaking after his team surged to the Coca-Cola semifinal by eliminating Gaborone United (GU) 1-0 in a thrilling match played at the Francistown stadium Saturday, the national Under-23 assistant tactician pointed out that his team still has a long way to go in the competition. The win came in a fortnight period after the Boteti side came from behind to send another giants TAFIC to the cleaners in the same competition.

 
'We want to prove that Boteti's promotion to Premier League was not a fluke. The recent performance is an indication that we can play,' said an impressed Mogae. He conceded that the teams he beat in Coke Cup are all strong side and this shows that he has built a better side though there are some few things to address.

 
He said he is happy to have contained the tactically good GU for most of game time. This is for the third time Boteti reaches the Coke semifinal. Mogae told Monitor Sport that he managed to keep the same team for a longtime and this has led to gradual development.  Boteti scored the only goal of the match as early as sixth minute through Kelothoko Daniel. Despite having all ingredients to send Boteti packing, GU failed to combine. After paralising Boteti's midfield, their final passes were poor.

GU dearly missed the services of their deadly striker Sageby Sandaka who is attending trials at a South African First Division side. Tshepo 'Schoolboy' Molefe's solo effort was not enough to save Luke Masomere's charges.

Ronald Chikomo and Kenny Ledikwe seemed to partner well upfront but goalkeeper Chamunowa Madamombe denied them opportunity. Things got worse when Ledikwe sustained an injury forcing him out of the game and his replacement Thuso Mosweu never clicked.

Both teams had clear-cut chances towards the end but lack of composure worked to their disadvantage. Substitute Safie Sibisibi was unlucky not to equalise in the 76th minute when his tame shot missed the target by a whisker. If it was not for Madamambe's acrobatics in Boteti's posts, the score margin could have been different. The Zimbabwean-born eventually won man of the match.
A seemingly disappointed GU assistant coach Marco Tshuma observed that his team never played well.

 
He attributed their failure to poor finishing upfront despite numerous chances. He said his players lacked composure inside the box.
Meanwhile, later on Saturday at the same venue, defending champions Notwane had a filled day when they hammered TASC 3-1. The encounter failed. to live up to the expectations. Both teams started the game on a high but faded away with time.

 
National team attacking midfielder Keoagetse Radipotsane and Ofile Lochia respectively scored for Toronto in the first half before Tshepiso 'Sox' Molwantwa sealed the deal with a penalty. After the break, Tasc enterprising midfielder Tebogo Mothusi did his level best to deliver passes but could not penetrate Notwane defence led by Fabian Zulu and Mpoeleng Mpoeleng.

 
Notwane defence did well to keep TASC's Terrence Mandanza at bay. The Tango boys got their consolation goal through Mokgathi Mokgathi, who converted a penalty following a handball in the dying minutes of the game. The win gave Notwane a chance to defend the cup they won under controversial circumstances last year.