17 Mar 2015

Mogoditshane Fighters coach, Mpho Mabogo says his team needs mental strength in the remaining three matches of the Debswana First Division South. 

The Brazilians enhanced their chances of direct promotion to the be Mobile Premier League with a 1-0 win against Rolling Boys on March 15.

Striker Malebogo Ntebogang struck a well-taken 19th-minute goal, after some hesitant defending, in a high paced encounter at the Fighters Grounds. The win lifted Mabogo’s side to 35 points, three behind star-studded Jwaneng Galaxy, who fell to a 2-0 defeat by Uniao Flamingo Santos on March 14.

After the win, which extended Fighters’ winning run to three consecutive matches, Mabogo said he was happy at how things were shaping up in the promotion race.

Asked whether his team could topple Galaxy from top the log, Mabogo said, “We are winning which is important because we are going forward. But I don’t want to put myself and the players under pressure by focusing too much on Galaxy’s lead.”

He said he would instead focus on the mentality of his players to ensure that they did not get distracted as the league had entered a difficult stage now. 

Mid-table Rolling Boys had started on the ascendancy, with nippy striker Gift Nelson testing goalkeeper Onneile Ditshito in the 6th minute after running onto a pass from Mogomotsi Keabaitse.

Fighters came close to conceding an own goal when defender Kenny Ledikwe’s back pass wrong footed Ditshito, but the ball trickled wide.

However, the Brazilians took control midway through the first half once Ntebogang had given them the lead with a sweet lob over the goalkeeper.  The striker then had a free header saved after a great cross by Nonofo Baatweng.

Keabaitse and Buang Dithebe tried to inspire Rolling Boys into a second half fight-back, but their strikers Gomolemo Ramaabya and Emmanuel Ditodi were off-key. 

Even the second half introduction of former Police XI midfielder Dennis Kaelo could not rescue Rolling Boys.  Meanwhile, in other results, former Premier League campaigners Black Peril were sunk into deeper into the relegation zone after being beaten 1-0 by Lesirane City. 

Black Forest’s chances of making the play-offs were severely dented by a 1-1 draw with Sharps, while Modipane United edged Prisons XI 1-0. ENDS