03 Feb 2020

Wame Mokoke was sent off and Extension Gunners were trounced 4-1 by BDF XI in his first match in charge.

The new Gunners head coach cut a frustrated figure as the team showed a spineless performance onFebruary 1 afternoon at Lobatse Sports Complex, and was sent off in the 73^rd minute for arguing with match officials.

Matebele dominated the BTC Premiership encounter and took the lead in the 21^st minute through Keeagile Kobe.

The talisman attacker swept home at the far post after Gunners goalkeeper, Itumeleng Selapa and left back, Obusitswe Gabadise failed to cut a cross from Godfrey Tauyatswala. Tauyatswala doubled the lead four minutes later with a header from a corner kick taken by Kobe.

BDF went for more blood as Mmoloki Kebalepile, Lawrence Radikgageng, Tendai Kesekile and Gabadise were in disarray in the Gunners defence.

Tshepo Motlhabankwe was assigned a midfield role in his first match for Gunners after leaving the club way back in 2007 to Mochudi Centre Chiefs, where he went on to win three league titles. But the aging legendary player was unable to cope with the pace of BDF midfielders, Godiraone Modingwane and Moagi Mokomeng.

In an effort to stop the BDF dominance of midfield, Mokoke brought on midfielder Batlang Sosome for Radikgageng in the 34^th minute, and switched Motlhabankwe back to central defence.

But BDF continued turning the screws on with Remmington Masuku, Kobe and Modingwane coming close to increasing the lead before half-time.

However, Gunners staged a brief fight back midway through the second half after Kebalepile headed home a free-kick by Dirang Moloi to reduce the deficit in the 62^nd minute.

But Matebele regained their two goal cushion 10 minutes later.

Substitute Thato Kananyo skinned Gabadise on the right flank and crossed for Oratile Taunyane to shoot into the roof of the net.

Kobe then completed the demolition job by heading home a corner kick from Siphiwe Matlala seven minutes before full-time.

BDF remained on position eight with 24 points from 17 matches.

“The approach was to create numerical superiority in attack and all areas to make sure we had more numbers every time we attacked them.

The aim was to create as many scoring opportunities as possible,” said BDF XI coach, Letang Kgengwenyane. Gunners dropped from position 11 to 12 with 14 points from 18 matches and are now above the relegation zone by two points. ENDs