13 Mar 2016

Mankgodi based Black Forest have increased Black Rangers chances of relegation to  the lower division after  beating them 2-1 in a Debswana First Division South league game played at Mankgodi on Saturday March 12.

Rangers are living on borrowed time given that of the 17 games they have played, they won one, lost 12, drew four and are at the bottom of the log with seven points.

On the other hand, Forest have put themselves in a position to clinch the championship and get promotion to the elite league as their win pushed them to the summit of the log with 35 points out of the 17 games. They won 10, lost two, drew five.

However, if they want to see themselves rubbing shoulders next season with the likes of Extension Gunners, Township Rollers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United, they will have to focus on their remaining games as only three points separate them from Rolling Boys.

During the game, Forest came with guns blazing and it was evident that all they wanted was three points and it did not come as a surprise when they won a corner as early as the eighth minute, although they failed to make use of it.

Forest continued to mount pressure on the visitors forcing them to make a lot of mistakes. In the 31st minute they were awarded a penalty and Kedirile Radiphala put it at the back of the net to make it 1-0. Rangers also made good moves going forward, but their hard work was thwarted by the solid Forest defence.

The game went into recess with Forest leading 1-0. Rangers came back more organised, as they piled pressure on Forest and in the 66th minute Ranger equalised through Kenneth Itheetseng.

The goal instilled confidence in the Tsabong based team as they launched numerous attacks, but lack of composure in the box defeated all their hard work.

In the 83rd minute, Rangers were dealt a blow after Odirile Pitso scored the second goal to ensure that his team remains at the top of the log.

After the game, Forest’s coach Murphy Maseko said his game plan was to play on the wings because his opponents had good midfielders who were capable of denying his team to execute their game tactics.

He said because Rangers had parked the bus, he told his players to launch attacks and dismantle their defence, hence they managed to score the second goal.

Maseko said in the remaining games, he would not leave any stone unturned as their mission was to play at the elite league next season.

“We had to win the game at all costs, we are one leg in the premier league and now we need to win at least two games to cement our position. If we can make 41 points then we are home and dry, there is no team which can topple us from the summit,” he said.

Rangers coach, Onalenna Osenne said in the first half his team did not play properly because Forest forced them to change their game plan.

He said in the second half, they came back a better side hence they managed to make good moves and caused havoc at the defence.

The coach also said although they were at the bottom of the log, it was still too early to write their obituary because mathematically they could still survive relegation.  ENDS