FRANCISTOWN: A weekend game between TAFIC and Matebele was a decisive one in many respects, a catch us if you can dare.
TAFIC beat Matebele 3-1 as other chasers continue to breath down TAFIC’s neck in the battle for the FNB Premiership league title. Matjimenyenga’s win puts the team on 33 points, three ahead of second placed Township Rollers with 15 games played. TAFIC scored through Thatayaone Nkwapa before Boy Lechaena equalised for Matebele.
The home side regained its lead after the Democratic of Congo (DRC) nationals, Kazadi Gauthier and Jeagogo Lwamba scored in the second half. Lwamba scored with a scorcher to take his tally to nine goals, which is the highest in the league. TAFIC will look to increase the lead when they play their reverse fixture against Matebele midweek. If TAFIC win against Matebele away next week, there is also optimism they could go on and get a positive result against defending champions, Jwaneng Galaxy in their next fixture.
Galaxy have 29 points from 15 games after their impressive 3-2 win over BDF XI on Sunday. Some TAFIC supporters are of the view that the team may win the league for the first time in its history and emulate ECCO City Greens, the only team from Francistown that has won the league. But TAFIC’s technical team is holding its cards close to their chests. Previously, TAFIC’s coach, Elias Chinyemba, said the management gave him the mandate of making sure that the team retains its premiership status and nothing else.
Then, Chinyemba, who was red carded in the TAFIC game against Gaborone United (GU), said the TAFIC management will probably come to him to give him the new mandate in the premier league. In a post match interview between TAFIC and Matebele, Undipe Ndikupe assistant coach, Thatayaone Sonny, reiterated what Chinyemba had said: “We were just given the mandate to win the games and nothing else.” Matebele coach, Sean Connor, said after the loss: “I think the wonder goal that gave TAFIC the lead changed the game. Hence they won. I think that in the second half, we were better than TAFIC and we kept the ball more. Hopefully we will keep the ball more.”
TAFIC 3 (Nkwapa, Gauthier, Lwamba) Matebele 1 (Lechaena)