15 Feb 2016

Debswana First Division North third placed Ecco City Greens kept their momentum in an endeavor to gain automatic promotion to the elite beMobile Premiership, where they once campaigned by beating Tonota FC two goals to one.

The team affectionately called Mamoja Diski by their supporters trounced Tonota FC in a closely contested game played on Saturday afternoon at the dusty Rutwang Junior Secondary School grounds in Tonota.
Both teams came into the game eyeing the maximum points, with Tonota trying hard to remain out of the relegation zone, while the visiting Ecco wanted to collect all points on offer to put up a spirited challenge to the league.

Ecco are faced with a promotion battle, which has other equally thirsty for top flight football teams, which have once campaigned there such as Great North Tigers (GNT), Tafic, Tasc and Mahalapye Hotspurs on their case.

On Saturday at Rutwang grounds, the two sides were an equal match as they piled pressure using flanks to send in floating crosses, but their strikers could not beat the goalkeepers.
Ecco goalie, Innocent Selebogo had to produce some world class saves from the marauding Tonota FC forwards in the mould of the immensely talented Tlhagiso Matthews, Goitseone Galeeme and Edwin Nthoiwa.

On the other hand, Tonota FC goalkeeper Lopang Ketlhobogile also had to face the onslaught of Ecco forwards in the mould of Onkemetse Powe, the lanky Thabiso Bante and Japel Zhikunya.
Veteran Ecco player and captain on the day Malepa ‘Chippa’ Bolelang had a great game playing from the unusual position of central defender, which he executed with such perfection, one would not believe he is a lethal attacker.

The two sides went to recess tied at nil all and the second half saw Ecco upping their play, as if to show Tonota that they are experienced.
Evergreen attacking midfielder Powe proved once again why he is such an important member of Mamoja Diski when he caused trouble for Tonota defence.

On the 71st minute, Ecco made their intentions known when left back, Walter Moyo scored a beauty of a goal with his left leg, which caught Tonota goalie, Ketlhobogile unaware.
The goal took the steam off Tonota who had thought they were in the game and with Ecco smelling a possible victory, they substituted lanky Bante for Oarabile Powe.

He did not waste time to announce his arrival when a very good cross from the other Powe was sent in and they exchanged passes with Nicholas ‘Mambush’ Matlhare who then passed to the new man on the field Powe to make it 2-0.

Tonota FC however did not sit back and throw their hands in the air as they pushed on and eventually pulled one back on the 80th minute when Khumo Mabina headed in a powerful freekick from Matthews, but it was a little too late as Ecco emerged victorious. Ends