17 Oct 2016

 A Debswana First Division North encounter between Ecco City Greens and Great North Tigers (GNT) ended in a one-all draw.
The game was lackluster in the first half as both sides seemed too disorganised to orchestrate productive moves that could open the score sheet.
Ecco, under the tutelage of Texan Phiri, had come into the derby having won away to Real Movers in Selebi Phikwe the previous Saturday, while GNT suffered a 2-0 loss at home courtesy of Palapye outfit, Motlakase Power Dynamos.
So their meeting on Saturday at the old Francistown stadium would have easily made one to conclude the game would be a walk in the park for Mamoja Diski, as Ecco are affectionately called by its supporters, if the previous weekend results were to be used as a yardstick. But it was GNT who seemed to be punching above their weight as they easily marched Ecco in the fireless first half.
Even the goal the Edward Leposo drilled boys scored in the first half on the 28 minute by hardworking and immensely talented Aobakwe ‘Marobela’ Morake was not as a result of well done moves. The youngster, who kept on being a thorn on ECCO defence marshaled by captain, Mosimanegape Mokiya, right back Walter Moyo and left back Galebose Mosala, managed to utilise a goalkeeping error by Tumelo Morupisi.
Morupisi failed to clear properly when he got off his goal line to sweep as the last man, which left his posts unguarded and Morake then kicked the ball from outside the 18-yard-area into empty posts to shock Mamoja Diski supporters.
The two sides went into the half time break with GNT players smiling, hoping they might just do the impossible and beat their hoodoo side.
Ecco however came back rejuvenated after an apparent tongue lashing from their gaffer, Phiri and came back into the field completely in a mean mood.
Their hardworking striker, Pontsho ‘Piro’ Sephutho came closer to equalising on the 48th minute but missed and this was just a preview of what he was to do for his side.
In the 52nd minute, the striker, Sephutho received a ball inside the 18-yard area and sent in a scorching left footed effort, beating goalkeeper Kabelo Mutumba to send his side into wild jubilation as he equalised to make it one all.
GNT’s Morake was however not finished with his brilliant display on the day as his free header hit the cross-bar on the 72nd minute and minutes later, his other header went off target. ENDS