09 Aug 2015

Mochudi Centre Chiefs were, on Saturday (August 8), wasteful in front of goals, despite burying BR Highlanders with five goals.

Having exerted pressure on the visitors from the first whistle and tapping home the first goal as early as the eighth minute through skipper Pontsho Moloi, many Magosi supporters who thronged the Molepolole Sports Complex, expected a feast of goals early in the game.

However, Chiefs continued to frustrate them until a minute before half-time when Kekaetswe 'Mara' Moloi nodded home the second goal from a cross by veteran winger, Othusitse 'Jabu' Pilane.

Nonetheless, between the eighth and 44^th minute, Chiefs could have scored about three more goals, with Mara Moloi being the main culprit as he wasted a number of good crosses from the sparkling winger, Senatla “Ayanda” Molefhe.

The wastefulness of the defending champions was duly noted by mentor, Mike Sithole who revealed in a post-match interview that they would need to work on their sharpness.

“Our finishing left a lot to be desired today. We could have been about five goals up by half-time, not by full-time, but am still positive that we are coming up well. I was impressed by our response in the second half as well as our ball possession,” said the Zimbabwean tactician.

Sithole said poor finishing was perhaps the result of expectation from them as champions.

“We are a team to beat this season so there has to be pressure here and there, especially in the first few games,” he said.

Sithole also hailed his new players’ performance such as Jackie Mothatego, who displayed a man-of-the-match performance in his first game. 

Chiefs were missing services of their new foreign players in the solid defender, Charles Mutero and Mkhanyelise Siwahla who are still awaiting their paperwork.

On the other hand, the humiliated Highlanders coach, Tebogo Mokute conceded that Chiefs outclassed them.

“We tried our best, but it was always going to be difficult playing the defending champions in the first game. Our defending was also not up to standard, as we let in four silly goals which on a good day, we could have easily defended,” Mokute said.

He was however positive that his team would soon hit a better gear, especially with the expectation of veteran midfielder, Tshepo “Schoolboy” Molefhe and striker, Emmanuel Thakadu in their next game. 

Chiefs went into recess leading 2-0, but the flood gates opened as early as the second minute of the second half when Mara Moloi tapped in his second of the game from an Ayanda pass. 

In the 52^nd minute, Tendai Nyumasi also scored, and man-of-the-match, Mothatego slotted home in the 84^th minute to wrap up the game with a 5-0 win.

 

Meanwhile, the trio of Mara, Moatlhodi Ralesota of Green Lovers as well as Segolame Boy of Township Rollers got a brace each in their first games of the season. Ends