05 Feb 2019

Debswana First Division North pacesetters, Tafic Sporting Club squandered an opportunity to stretch their lead at the log summit when they were held to a goalless draw by Sua Flamingoes.

In a damp squib affair displayed at the Francistown Old Stadium before a capacity crowd, the Matjimenyenga Boys never looked like an organised outfit from the onset as the visitors pressed them in their own turf. 

They also failed to replicate the form that saw them dominate their opponents since the league began last year.

The game was characterised by aimless aerial balls which made it difficult for both teams to dictate terms. 

Patrick Lenyeletse, Tendai Nyamadzao and captain, Mamikina Mayunga kept the Tafic defence on their toes, but indecisiveness in front of goal meant that their efforts went to naught.

Tafic’s reliable dangerman, Mbatshi Elias also failed to live up to his reputation as most of his attempts went wide.

He was also starved of supply from the midfield as his teammates failed to provide the defence splitting passes that he normally profits from.

Kemoreng Batisani and Rebaone Modisaotsile were also out of sorts as Tafic failed to respond to Flamingoes’ kick and rush aerial balls.

However, in defence, Shoes Selefa marshaled his troops and thwarted many of the visitors’ attacks. He held them at bay and protected his goal mouth area, winning many of the aerial balls that were floated into the danger zone by the visitors’ midfielders.

Flamingoes, sensing Tafic’s panic to their high balls, pilled pressure but could not convert during their many forays in the opposition goal area.

The two teams’ goalkeepers, Abednico Morapedi for Tafic and Flamingoes’ Edwin Mokibe had a relaxed afternoon as both teams failed to find the target.

In the second half, Tafic lost their dependable goalkeeper, Morapedi who sustained a head injury after a mid-air collision with an opposition striker while clearing a corner kick.

The forced substitution saw the introduction of Thabo Race who acquitted himself well until the end of the game.

In another encounter over the weekend, Morupule Wanderers made a meal out of Francistown City Greens when they thrashed them 4-1 at the Francistown Old Stadium. 

Buoyed by a sizeable number of their travelling supporters, Wanderers started like a house on fire pilling pressure on a hapless City Greens defence, which had no answers to their attacks. 

City Greens goalkeeper, Keotshepile Nkonopang proved to be the weakest link as he was beaten by easy balls that he could have dealt with. 

The Master Masitara inspired Wanderers was however in an uncompromising mood as they went on a rout of the home team. 

Masitara scored a brace in the space of six minutes while City Greens pulled one back through Kenny Tarea to reduce the deficit in the 39^th minute.

However, the Oris Radipotsane drilled outfit put the game beyond the hosts through Kelepile Terata and Thabo Wetshoemang. 

Wanderers now trail Tafic by one point and would be hoping for a better result when the two teams meet next weekend. Ends