19 Sep 2019

Extension Gunners head coach, Stanley Mwaanga has highlighted some notable improvements in the team after his newly assembled troops beat Miscellaneous 1-0 in a league match on Wednesday night.

Gunners acquired a host of new players as the new BTC Premiership campaign was about to start, leaving Mwaanga with little time to get his ideas across the team.

They went on to suffer agonising defeats in their first two games to Township Rollers (2-3) and Gilport Lions (1-2).

However, the team recovered impressively on Wednesday to register their first win of the campaign with a dominant performance against Miscellaneous at Lobatse Sports Complex.

Mmoloki Kebalepile converted a 21st minute spot-kick to settle the encounter after Tshepo Borake was fouled inside the penalty area by Oabile Bathusi.

Gunners played neat football throughout the match and saw some inviting scoring opportunities go begging due to poor finishing.

Miscellaneous goalkeeper, Kagiso Moganetsi also frustrated them with two brilliant saves from the impressive Borake and Sithembiso Hlophe.

The hosts, however, nearly regretted those squandered opportunities as Miscellaneous almost equalised midway through the second half. However, Molaodi Tlhalefang’s well-taken effort rebounded off the post with goalkeeper, Matshwenyego Koobonye well beaten.

“Today we played very well and we could have won by six or seven. I am a person who likes football to be played on the ground. I was impressed with our defence and midfield and those chances we created,” Mwaanga said after the match.

“As I have been saying our preparation for the season was not very good. We had players who came very late into the team. Now we are starting to gel. You saw that in the first half we played far better than Miscellaneous. I have changed all these players and given them a chance. I want to see what they can do. I believe we will be ready after five or six games,” added the coach.

He said he would give more chances to young players. Gunners started the match with youngsters Bakang Tsholang and Ashtan Esterhuizen. They caused havoc upfront before they were withdrawn in the second half.

“I like the youth. Very soon I will be picking about three or four. You should give them chances to play because they are also part and parcel of the team,” he said.

Gunners remained in position 15 with minus three points. The team was deducted six points before the start of the campaign for failing to fulfill club licensing requirements.

Miscellaneous on the other hand continued their winless start to the campaign after losing to BDF XI (1-0) and sharing the spoils with Gaborone United (1-1) in their opening matches.

Head coach Otsile Koolese said he was still fine-tuning the team. “I will have to work on our finishing because we could have scored today with better finishing,” he said. ENDS