Mochudi Centre Chiefs' head coach, Pontsho Moloi, admitted his side needed some bit of luck during a tense 1-0 win over his former team, Gaborone United (GU), on Wednesday evening.
He said having insights on the GU camp came in handy in the midweek FNB Premiership blockbuster. Moloi returned to the GU Stadium for the first time since leaving the club for the Kgatleng giants in January. Moloi led a team that he became a household name against his employers for six years. Chiefs needed to jump a few places, keep in touch with the league pacesetters whilst a GU win would have seen them ascend to the top of the standings, and level on points with Township Rollers but with a better goal difference. A late goal from Monty Enosa separated the two teams in a game that saw Mothusi Johnson sent off in the final minutes.
The match officials had a lot of work with some players receiving yellow cards, whilst Moloi also had to be cautioned. In front of a capacity crowd, it was an onslaught of attacks from both ends, but it was the home side that had the slight upper hand. However, they were let down by their finishing. From the start of the second, Magosi were forced into a substitution with reliable centre-half Kgosietsile Ernest due to an injury. GU loanee, Brian Tafhi, came in as Ernest's replacement to face his parent club. With nine minutes to time, Tatenda Gora slipped and missed a header, allowing Enosa to cut from the byline and face goal. Enosa was further helped by a slip from goalkeeper Thabo Motswagole as he buried his chance to the top corner to send the Magosi faithful in the north stand into wild celebrations.
"For me, it was not a must win, it was about bringing my team (up) and trying to get maximum points, and to try to move up a bit in the log standings. I think we executed that very well. We were very patient without the ball and we know, I have been here for six years and I know the mentality and I know a lot of stuff," Moloi said. "I qloso think we need to give credit to the opponents. They played very beautiful (football). We were lucky on some moments where we could have conceded a goal or two," Moloi added.
The match officials had a lot of work with some players receiving yellow cards, whilst Moloi also had to be cautioned. In front of a capacity crowd, it was an onslaught of attacks from both ends, but it was the home side that had the slight upper hand. However, they were let down by their finishing. From the start of the second, Magosi were forced into a substitution with reliable centre-half Kgosietsile Ernest due to an injury. GU loanee, Brian Tafhi, came in as Ernest's replacement to face his parent club. With nine minutes to time, Tatenda Gora slipped and missed a header, allowing Enosa to cut from the byline and face goal. Enosa was further helped by a slip from goalkeeper Thabo Motswagole as he buried his chance to the top corner to send the Magosi faithful in the north stand into wild celebrations.
"For me, it was not a must win, it was about bringing my team (up) and trying to get maximum points, and to try to move up a bit in the log standings. I think we executed that very well. We were very patient without the ball and we know, I have been here for six years and I know the mentality and I know a lot of stuff," Moloi said. "I qloso think we need to give credit to the opponents. They played very beautiful (football). We were lucky on some moments where we could have conceded a goal or two," Moloi added.
