20 May 2019

Morupule Wanderers have booked a seat in the BTC Premiership after a two-all draw against Jwaneng Fighters in the second leg of Debswana First Division promotional playoffs at Pilikwe grounds on May 18.

In the promotional playoffs first leg, Wanderers walloped Jwaneng-based Fighters 2-0 at its home soil at Galaxy Stadium. 

The results meant that Wanderers have amassed 4-2 on aggregate thus gaining promotion to the elite league.

Wanderers dominated the first half thus taking a lead just 10 minutes into the game through a header by captain Katlego Mpoeleng. 

The square pass from Kgololo Kgogobi in the left wing landed well on the utility captain to head home.

The game continued with both teams fiercely looking for goals. 

On the 30^th minute, Wanderers increased the tally through Master Masitara after receiving the ball in a good position and did what he knew best. 

At recess, Wanderers were leading 2-0. However, in the second half Fighters were ferociously looking for goals as they did not want to leave Pilikwe grounds embarrassed though they knew chances of making it to the elite league was next to nil.

Fighters had a better portion of the second half as it seemed like Wanderers let down their guard.

 Fighters made penetrative moves that caught Wanderers defence limping only for Kago Keotlogele to reduce the lead through a volley to make the score sheet 2-1. 

In the dying minutes of the game, Fighters substitute Soareng Bagale snatched a goal after poaching from a danger zone to make the final score 2-2.

In an interview, Wanderers head coach Boyo Radipotsane said his boys played well despite conceding two goals in the second half.

He said the game approach was good adding that his boys were a bit sluggish in the second half thinking that they had already won the game and conceded goals. 

He said at the start of the Debswana Northern First Division League, his plan was to take his team to the elite league. 

“Now that we are going to the BTC Premiership, we need to device a roadmap in order to make a meaningful appearance,” he said.

Fighters head coach, Andrew Tlou expressed content with his charges noting that the boys displayed good football in the second half.

He said the first half was difficult because of the pressure of conceding two goals in the first leg and therefore ended up conceding another two goals because his defence was not focused.

He said in the second half he made some few changes, as he took out his left back and brought in a striker and swapped his players in the middle, a move that worked to his advantage.

“If we could have played like this in the first half we could have scored goals,” he said. ENDS