14 Feb 2017

Debswana First Division North (FDN) football league continued over the weekend with Sua Flamingoes beating Francistown based Great North Tigers (GNT) 2-1 at the Old Francistown Stadium.
Sua Flamingoes were fresh from walloping Chobe United 3-1, whilst GNT’s last game against their city rivals and log leaders, Tafic ended in a two-all-draw.
The Saturday encounter started on a low tempo under the scorching Francistown heat, but on the 4th minute, the visiting Flamingoes’ Kerapetse Mosimanegape netted his team’s first goal.
Flamingoes’ attack was forceful thanks to their heavily built and highly experienced players in the newly acquired Bonolo Frazer, Kebaitse and Letlang Moatlhodi.
Kebaitse supplied endless crosses into their opponent’s goal area but often Frazer and Witness Livingstone failed to convert them into goals.
On the other side, GNT also wasted scoring chances, but sensing the visitors’ unrelenting attacks, they deployed a defensive strategy by piling all their players at the back to thwart Flamingoes’ offensives.
However, thanks to the skills and composure of their highly rated and hardworking former Tafic marksman, Gofamodimo ‘Gaa’ Kobe, the opponents’ midfielders were often dealt with effectively as deep as the middle of the park.
Unfortunately, GNT’s defensive strategy did not pay off as towards the end of the half, Frazer secured his team’s second goal to put the score sheet at 2-0 by half-time.
When the teams returned for the second half, GNT coach Edward ‘Pro” Leposo made an early substitution taking out Mosa Tamokate and bringing in Tebogo Mafala.
Sua Flamingoes continued with their dominance on ball possession through endless back-to-back passes without interception.
On the 56th minute, GNT made another substitution of Bellen Modise for Lesedi Gakebatshware which seemed to give the team a boost as it attacked as a unit.
The team’s talented players like Thabo ‘Pogba’ Leposo and Aobakwe Mopaki pushed hard for GNT’s first goal.
Flamingoes had to neutralise their hosts; as such they pulled out Letlang Moatlhodi for Kago Matshoba.
On the 73th minute, referee Simon Toitoi awarded a penalty to GNT after a hand ball on the goal area by Sua Flamingoes’ Mosimanegape.
GNT’s Aobakwe Mopaki stepped up to make it 2-1 and the goal gave the hosts a new lease of life as GNT earnestly looked for an equaliser.
In the dying minutes, Sua Flamingoes’ coach, Enis Mmesi introduced Odirile Mokgethi for Mompati Sekwa, but it did not bring forth another goal for his side.
The attacks from both teams kept going back and forth but none managed another success at goal until the referee blew his whistle to signal stoppage time. ENDS