12 Mar 2019

Police XI head coach, Michael Sithole has expressed satisfaction with the way his team has progressed in the BTC Premiership this season. 

Sithole, who took over the Jungle Kings reigns in July last year, has quickly transformed them into dark horses in the title race after the team had flirted with relegation in the previous campaign. 

The Jungle Kings continued with their impressive resurgence with a 2-0 victory away to relegation threatened Black Forest at Lobatse Sports Complex on March 11.  

“We played well looking at the fact that we were coming from defeat against Orapa United in our last match. I think with seven games to go we have done well and what is important is to continue collecting three points,” he said.

He said the only big change he made after taking over the team was to ensure that the players understood his philosophy,” he said  after the match. 

“I think there is better understanding. I have to know how to motivate them, it’s about man management. They have improved a lot and have been winning and have shown character which is good. Come next season we will plan and see the way forward,” he added.

Meanwhile, Police were in control from the onset with captain Betsho Pius and Joseph Joseph commanding the midfield. 

They almost took the lead in the ninth minute, but midfielder Uyapo Seleka missed the bottom corner by a whisker after being given space by the Forest defence to turn and shoot inside the penalty area.

After the miss, the Jungle Kings continued probing forward and opened the scoring through midfielder Hendrick Moyo midway through the first half.

Police were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area after Goabaone Mogorosi pushed Moyo in the 27^th minute. 

Joseph drilled in a low set-piece, which was tapped into the net by Moyo. Striker Kekaetswe Moloi and Moyo missed two chances to double their lead for Sithole’s men.

Forest striker Wellington Maposa was kept quiet in the first half by the Police rearguard of Letsweletse Leririma and former Forest man Tonderai Nyakuba.

However, they improved in the second period with Koketso Majafi, Thero Ntau, Donald Botshoma and Gobona Ramotlhwa foraging forward.

But they still lacked the punch to seriously trouble Police goalkeeper Lesego Bosekeng. 

Tapiwa Gadibolae doubled the visitors’ lead in the 77^th minute when he picked a through ball from Moloi and slotted past Forest goalkeeper Lame Tladinyana.

Tladinyana denied Police more goals by pulling off good saves from substitute Letumile Molebatsi and Moloi in the dying moments of the match.

The victory cemented Police’s position in the top four bracket with 42 points from 23 matches. 

Defeat on the other hand pushed Forest deeper into relegation zone with 15 points from 23 matches. ENDS