Matebele edge Notwane to stay in the hunt

Happy days: Matebele players celebrate.PIC.MATEBELE
Happy days: Matebele players celebrate.PIC.MATEBELE

Matabele scored late to condemn title chasing Notwane to a 2-1 defeat in a First Division South match played at the SSG Ground on Saturday.

The win takes Matebele to second, three points behind leaders, CrackiT City Polar as the promotion race heats up. It was a tight affair between the two sides that defended well but Matebele's defence was breached as early as the sixth minute. Matebele coach, Elias Chinyemba bemoaned his side’s penchant for conceding silly goals after a mix-up between Utlwang Ramakgathi and his goalkeeper Neo Kenalemang gifted Notwane the opener. “We have been conceding easy goals. Our opponents are not creating much against us but it’s us who are hurting ourselves,” he said.

Chinyemba said this was something that they are working on going into the next game as his players are mostly youngsters. However, Chinyemba was thrilled with his side's tenacity that his team possessed as they did not give up throughout the game, and were later rewarded with the winning goal. It was not long before the spectators witnessed the first goal of the match as Remmington Masuku press on Ramakgathi was rewarded. Under pressure, Ramakgathi passed the ball to Kenalemang, who also panicked upon seeing the onrushing Masuku. The striker disposessed the keeper to put his side 1-0 ahead. The early goal saw Notwane keep up the pressure with their high-speed pressing game, but the Matebele defence stood tall. The high press by Notwane forced Matebele to sit back and play a low block and attack on breaks. Malvern Moyo was a thorn on the Matebele side’s flesh but still the visitors stood their ground as Notwane could not find the second goal. In the 20th minute, Matebele broke on attack which was their first clear cut chance of the game. Teddy Ditshweu made a pass which beat Notwane's midfielders and found Thabo Maponda who hit a shot that forced Thabang Motlhabi into a save.

Editor's Comment
Routine child vaccination imperative

The recent Vaccination Day in Motokwe, orchestrated through collaborative efforts between UNICEF, USAID, BRCS, and the Ministry of Health, underscores a commendable stride towards fortifying child health services.The painful reality as reflected by the Ministry of Health's data regarding the decline in routine immunisation coverage since the onset of the pandemic, is a cause for concern.It underscores the urgent need to address the...

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