14 Feb 2016

beMOBILE Premiership defending champions Mochudi Centre Chiefs ran rampant on Saturday night, convincingly outwitting Extension Gunners 3-0 before a large crowd at the National Stadium.

A first half Tendai Nyumasi brace, as well as Lemponye ‘FC’ Tshireletso’s 13^th goal of the season, a second half header, were enough to give the Centre Chiefs faithful a Saturday night to remember, as well as send warning signals to fellow title contenders Township Rollers and Orapa United- Magosi Maaparankwe will not relinquish their leopard skin without a fight.

Like a village headman intent on flogging a deviant streetwise ‘Pantsula,’ Centre Chiefs were in a mean mood from the first whistle.  Thatayaone Ramatlapen’s low cross found Onalethata ‘OT’ Tshekiso in the first minute, who controlled and turned only for his optimistic shot to go narrowly wide of Wagarre ‘Waxy’ Dikago’s goal.

A minute later, Tendai Nyumasi lobbed the ball over the advancing Dikago to make it 1-0 to Centre Chiefs.  Gunners attempted to play some possession football, but their passes were mostly going sideways with Kemmy Pilato, Amos ‘Shoes’ Godirwang and Daniel Mogopodi rarely making forward forays, while Mandla ‘Spiriki’ Mgadla, Moemedi Moatlhaping and Emmanuel Machinya were largely isolated up front.

Chiefs had more positive use of their possession; Othusitse ‘Jabu’ Pilane making an overlapping run in the 13^th minute, his cross headed just wide by Tshekiso.  

Ramatlapeng was making tearing runs into the Gunners defence from the left wing, with Tshekiso dropping to collect passes from the midfield and the overlapping right back Pilane.

Nyumasi got his second in the 26^th minute, making it 2-0 to Chiefs, continuing his brilliant form of seven goals in three league matches, having managed a hat trick in the 6-1 demolition of FC Satmos, and a goal in the 2-0 triumph over Gaborone United, before the Gunners brace. 

But Nyumasi’s night was cut shot, as he sustained an injury and had to be replaced by Jackie Mothatego late in the first half.

A marvelous free kick effort by Mgadla forced an acrobatic save from Chiefs goal minder Raphael Nthwane, who tipped the ball over the bar, having had spent most of the first half rarely troubled by Gunners.

The two sides went into the half time recess with Chiefs leading 2-0.  Chiefs carried on where they left off in the first half, continuing their positive attacking football.  In the 51^st minute Tshekiso went clear on goal but was wrongly adjudged to be offside.  A minute later Tshireletso forced a save off Dikago as Magosi kept exerting pressure on Mapantsula.

In the 62^nd minute Gunners came agonizingly close with a curling in swinging cross from a free kick on their right wing.  But it would be Chiefs who would get their third, Lemponye Tshireletso making it 3-0 in the 68^th minute with a low header getting on the end of a Ramatlapeng corner kick.

In the 70^th minute, Tshekiso went clear on goal but lost composure and released a timid shot easily saved by the advancing Dikago.  Gunners attempted to get into the game, but it was too little too late, they had been outplayed over the 90 minutes, and Chiefs were full value for their win.

It was Gunners’ first loss in eight league matches, their previous defeat being a 1-0 loss to Jwaneng Galaxy last November 7.  The win kept Centre Chiefs at position three on 46 points, while Gunners are on position nine with 29 points.  With his 13^th goal, Tshireletso is now the league’s leading scorer. In other results , Orapa United beat Miscellaneous  2- 0 in Serowe on Friday night, while Gaborone United beat Police XI 1- 0 on Saturday in Molepolole.

On Saturday afternoon in Serowe, Motlakase Power Dynamos defeated Nico United 2-1

In Maun, Kefilwe Senyane,  Khumbulani Madziba and Botsalo Oatlhotse scored for BDF XI as they defeated Sankoyo Bush Bucks 3-1; Thato Monowe having scored Ngurungu’s goal.

Rentse Keabetse’s penalty was enough for Green Lovers to edge FC Satmos 1-0 on Saturday night in Serowe. Ends