19 Feb 2018

 Gaborone United  (GU) coach, Rudolfo Zapata has admitted that the current financial challenges bedevilling his team are making it difficult for him to motivate his players ahead of games.

Speaking in an interview after his team succumbed to a 2-3 loss against rookies, Sharps Shooting Stars in the ‘Zola Derby’ taken to the Molepolole Sports Complex on Sunday, Zapata said that the players and even him as the coach have gone for sometime without their monthly salaries, and that in such circumstances, players are normally reluctant to play.

“We have gone for 15 days without training, and the result of that was clearly visible in the game. We only played for about the first 15 minutes and from there, it was my 11 players walking on the pitch against 11 Sharps players running,” he said of the fatigue that gripped his players as a result of lack of physical strength. Zapata also admitted that his team needs to rebuild and that Sharps were the deserved winners.

Gaborone United had gone ahead through their evergreen winger, Thatayaone Kgamanyane who beat the advancing Raphael Nthwane to get to the end of a Dirang Moloi through pass as early as the 13^th minute. Many then thought that Moya Goleele would defy their more than two weeks of lack of training, but that was not to be as Sharps then scored three goals in succession without a response from GU.Sharps got their first with four minutes remaining of the first half through a world class goal by hard working Otlarongwa Nthumolang, who controlled well a pass before a terrific bicycle kick execution that gave GU goalkeeper, Ookeditse Semelamela no chance.

After the break, Sharps were immediately on the offensive and went ahead four minutes on when Letlhogonolo Chenjela made a breakthrough pass to Langa Mabule, but in his chase, United defender, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe appeared to have the last touch on the ball although Mabule claimed the goal.

Sharps put the game further away when they struck again in the 76^th minute through second half substitute, Refentse Mmelesi, but GU pulled one back with nine minutes remaining when Ditlhokwe made amends for his earlier mistake nodding home a Moloi pass from a short corner.

After the game, Sharps coach, Michael Mogaladi praised his players for their ability to change style of play instantly to adapt to the flow of the game.

 “If you look at the game, we were slower when the game started, but later changed the style to be more offensive, especially on the wings after adopting a lone striker upfront,” he said.

On whether lack of training by his opponent was not the result for their luck, Mogaladi said that was not the case as they had put up the same playing style the previous week against Sankoyo Bush Bucks. Ends