15 Sep 2015

Great North Tigers (GNT) has thumped Tafic 4-3 during their first encounter in the 2015/16 Debswana First Division North league in Francistown old stadium recently.

The game started on a high note, especially Tafic as they were pushing for an early goal and their efforts were rewarded as Tafic’s Kemoreng Batisani netted an early goal just eight minutes into the game after GNT’s Molemogi Chalashika failed to clear the ball.

Tafic continued to pile more pressure searching for a second goal but their efforts were fruitless as Tafic’s Mbatshi Elias failed to convert a free kick on the edge of the penalty area.

GNT immediately made substitutions, bringing in Lekani Habana and taking out Otsile Sithole who showed a poor play. In the 34th minute, GNT’s Aobakwe Mopaki scored an equalizing goal, which motivated his team and in a space of two minutes, Tamocha Bedi scored the second goal to make it 2-1.

Tafic’s Batisani scored his brace to make it two all just five minutes before the end of the first half.

 In the dying minutes of the first half, GNT survived as Tafic hit a cross bar through Mbatshi Machongo. Mbatshi Elias scored in the 54th minute through a free header to make the scoreboard read 3-2 in favour of Tafic.

 GNT managed to level matters within 15 minutes through a free header and then the team sealed the game by scoring the winning goal in the dying minutes of the second half to end the game 4-3. Tafic Coach, Atshele Molapi told BOPA in a post-match interview that the game was open for both sides and the number of goals scored showed that each team came prepared for a win.

 “We did not play well because we have a new team and the players are still working to know each other,” Molapi said.

He said they were good in attack but poor at defence but he said he is happy with the team performance though they made a lot of mistakes, which cost them the valuable three points.

 Molapi said their wish was not to start the league campaign with a loss, saying that brings more pressure to new players.

 However, the coach said the game gave them an opportunity to identify mistakes to be corrected that they could still achieve their vision to be promoted to be Mobile Premiership. For his part, GNT head coach, Edward Leposo said the game was an equal affair, noting that they managed to collect three points because they converted the chances they had.

 “Tafic is hot and I respect them. Even when I was talking to the boys, I told them Tafic is a big team, we cannot attack them first. 

Let us first block, so that if we lose, we loose with a one or two goals but Lady Luck was with us on the day,” he said. Ends