TAFIC start on a high note

MOGOMOTSI MOLOI
Correspondent | Tuesday January 15, 2008 00:00

TAFIC, which is in the process of hiring a new coach from Zimbabwe, Willard Khumalo, had a field day at the expense of the limping champions. The game started at a high pace with both sides showing determination to win.

Matjimenyenga got an early goal through Tamocha Bedi after a pass from the on-form Somali striker Mohammed Chawila.
However, the celebration were short-lived as the towering Madlenkosi Sibanda levelled the scores five minutes later after dribbling past the TAFIC rearguard.

Unlike past games between the two Francistown sides, TAFIC were on a roll and fired from all cylinders. They took advantage of the jittery ECCO defence that missed the steadying influence of Zecco Makafiri and Nkosinathi Dube. Makafiri is nursing an ankle injury while Dube is said to be training with Township Rollers.

Against TAFIC, captain Malepa Bolelang had to be substituted early due to an injury and this affected the ECCO attack.
After the break, TAFIC increased the tempo and made life difficult for their opponents. In the 55th minute, substitute Mlamuli Phikati made it 2-1 as it became obvious that ECCO's central defenders, Mothusi Lesotlho and Trinity Nko could not contain the pressure from marauding TAFIC strikers.

Though he did not score, Chawila, who is reportedly on the wanted list of ECCO, had a good game. Mmoloki Semberengwa sealed victory for TAFIC with the third goal that took the club to the top eight bracket with 18 points from 13 games.
TAFIC has become the scourge of ECCO and last season, they beat the champions twice in the league. TAFIC caretaker coach Ntime Ntime told Mmegi Sport that their victory was a result of planning.

'We knew that they would come with a revenge mentality and we punished them. We worked on a combination upfront at training and this proved effective,' said a delighted Ntime. He added that they are not desperate to sign more players because the team is on the right track.

ECCO assistant coach Atshele Molapi accepted the defeat. He hailed TAFIC for a good performance. He attributed the loss to poor defending and limited time of training.
He said they did not have enough time to prepare for the match because their training pitch was water-logged while their opponents used the Francistown Stadium for training.

'We needed three points desperately but things did not go according to our wishes. TAFIC were better than us.
It was clear that they prepared better than us,' conceded Molapi.