17 Apr 2016

Mochudi Centre Chiefs chances of defending their beMOBILE premiership title literally hangs by a point.

This comes after the defending champions were held to a one all draw by BDF XI at the Moleplole Sports Complex.

The result means Chiefs now trails log leaders, Township Rollers by five points with only two games left, meaning that Rollers only need a point to put the league honours beyond Chiefs.

Considering the massive goal difference of 14 goals between the two, should Rollers even just play to a goalless draw in their next game, Chiefs will then need to win theirs by a massive 14 goals without reply from their next opponent, a feat that looks impossible.

Despite the odds seemingly stacked against his team, the ever confident Chiefs gaffer, Mike Sithole indicated once more, as he has do so before in numerous occasions that they will not give up on the title until the last game of the championship.

“We still have two games to go before the end of the season, and I have confidence in my boys because they are championship material. If you have observed, I have been shuffling them around throughout and most of them were able to demonstrate that they can play in more than one position, which is what we require in championship,” he said.

He said this will mean that even if they do not win the league, he still has confidence in them and will not need to beef up much ahead of next season.

Sithole also hailed the way this season has unfolded, saying that it is competitive as the top three teams are likely to fight a bitter fight to the end, unlike others seasons where the champion was determined with many games left.

For his part, BDF XI coach, Beston Chambesi said he is worried by his frontline’s failure to convert chances, saying were they sharp enough, they would have collected maximum points against Chiefs.

“We have a tendency of missing easy chances, but the irony of it is that the opponent always punishes us with the little chance they get. This happened against Miscellaneous in Serowe the previous weekend, and it happened again against Chiefs,” he said.

Chambesi said that Chiefs had a sloppy defence, something he said they should have taken advantage of.

He however, said that getting a point against a good team like Chiefs is not bad.

Chambesi also said that he is already preparing for next season as he has been giving a few youngsters a chance.

BDF XI scored as early as the 10th minute through Keeagile Kobe when he slotted home after Chiefs defence let him receive a pass from Takunda Sadiki right in front of the goal keeper.

Sadiki and the towering Khumbulani Madziba exerted pressure on Chiefs defence throughout the game.
After recess however, Chiefs found the equalizer through second half substitute, Thatayaone Ramatlapeng after he received a pass unmarked on the right wing.

The stocky youngster slotted at the far post to save Chiefs the blushes of a loss.

The draw means Chiefs have now dropped to position three while BDF XI maintains position four. ENDS