07 Nov 2019

Notwane head coach Oupa Kowa says the team was ‘relieved’ to collect their first victory of the current BTC Premiership campaign after beating Gilport Lions 1-0 on Wednesday night.

The three-time former top flight champions had a nightmare start to the campaign.

They failed to register victory in their opening eight games.

However, they were all over Lions at Lobatse Sports Complex and deservedly won through a well taken goal by Gift Maworere.

The centre-back slotted a first time shot past Lions goalkeeper Richard Mampane in the 33rd minute from a well-threaded pass by Kudzanai Machadzani.

Notwane pelted Lions with wave after wave of attacks in the first half and nearly grabbed the lead in the third minute.

Goitseone Bokhutlo weaved through the Lions defence and found Boyo Lechaena, whose effort bounced off the post.

The Lions’ defence, marshalled by veteran Tumisang Sekanonyane, cleared another dangerous ball off the line two minutes later.

Mampane saved a great attempt from Lechaena in the 13th minute, while Lungisani Fanyana went narrowly with a powerful shot after combining with Langa Mabuli in the 24th minute.

The Lions nearly took the lead against the run of play when Tshepang Molefe went through the Notwane defence and was denied by the outstretched legs of goalkeeper Thomas Manyalela.

A lapse in concentration then allowed Maworere to give Notwane the lead with his first goal for the club since his arrival from Sharps Shooting Stars (now Molepolole City Stars) in July.

Two minutes after the goal, another steering move saw Mabuli exchange passes with Bokhutlo, who released Fanyana but the striker wasted the glorious opportunity.

The Lions gave a better fight in the second half and limited Notwane’s attacks.

Sithembile Mbuqe however wasted an excellent opportunity to double the lead in the 83rd minute.

“The feeling is of relief. We fought hard. Finally today we got a win. We are happy about creating chances, but not happy that we are not converting.

But as long as the chances are there then we stand a better chance of converting.

If you are creating then you are hopeful that you can get the goal,” Kowa said after the match.

Kowa said their goalless draw three weeks ago against Gaborone United was the turning point in Notwane’s campaign.

Before that match ‘Sechaba’ had lost five consecutive matches without scoring a goal.

“We had played so well without scoring, but when finally we collected a point we felt in the dressing room that a corner had been turned.

And the results now prove that. We lost against Rollers (last weekend) because of our own mistakes,” the coach added.

Notwane remained at the bottom of the log with minus one point.

The team was docked six points for non-compliance to club licensing.

The Lions continued their woeful run and had now lost six games in a row.

However, head coach Paradzayi Mandivenga was not worried, saying his team was still gaining experience of competing in the Premier League.

“Honestly we are not worried. My team is not experienced.

There are only two players who played in the Premier League (before), Butcher (Tumisang Sekanonyane) and Talkie (Tshepo Motlhabankwe) and the rest are small boys.

In the first division I promised them that they were still going to play if we went to the Premier League.

They worked for promotion and they are playing. I am giving them the exposure that they need.

I cannot dump them,” said Mandivenga. He said he used the first eight games for his players to gain experience.

“I think each and every game we are improving.

I think this is the only game that we didn’t score,” he said.

The Lions are second bottom with a single point from nine matches.

They also had three points deducted for non-compliance to club licensing. ENDS