17 Sep 2023

Gaborone United (GU) coach, Pontsho Moloi was a seemingly content man after his team salvaged a last-minute draw against Supersport United of South Africa, courtesy of a Sheikh Sesay scorcher.

The two met in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup and Moloi said in a post-match press conference that the goal would cushion the pressure when Moyagoleele travel down south for a return leg on independence eve.

“It’s a very good result for us, maybe not to some people but for us it’s okay, although we had hoped to not concede home. We have another 90 minutes to battle it out,” he said.

Moloi also admitted to his team missing valuable chances in the first half which could have buried the game well before half time.

“The first half it was all the red and white team on the pitch and we could have gotten a couple of goals, but this is only our third competitive game and that could have played a part. So I cannot be unhappy with the performance,” he said.

Moloi also sang praises of the Liberian international, Sesay who struck the equaliser on his debut.

“He is a young boy and is very good and confident. You can tell he is a quality player,” he said.

For his part, Supersport United coach, Gavin Hunt said it was a bit hurtful to concede in the last minute of the game.

“We were hoping to go back with an away win, which could have been more valuable for us than a draw, but in football it happens and we just have to accept it,” he said.

He also cautioned GU that they would meet a different team in Pretoria as they would have a couple of games to play before the two meet again.

Hunt was also seemingly dissatisfied with the quality of the turf at the National Stadium, indicating that the pitch was too bumpy to move the ball around.

GU started the game with intent, but their usually evergreen players in Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Mothusi Cooper and Thero Setsile were the major culprits in the game, with Kgamanyane missing clear chances as soon as the game started.

Have the trio came to the party, GU would have gone into half time about four goals up. Moyagoleele’s poor sharpness before goals was punished when Supersport  United caught their defence napping two minutes from the break when Keenan Bezuidenhout struck.

The goal allowed the vistors to settle into the game and started displaying a more improved performance from the first half.

Supersport United started playing the ball around preservetively to maintain the lead throughout the second half.

With the added time dying off and GU supporters seemingly starting to make peace with a loss, Sesay, a second half substitute, struck from outside the box, a strike so sweet that it could have made many commentators run out of superlatives.

The emotionally overcome midfielder was duly showered with appreciations by team-mates for a goal that will cushion the pressure off Moya Goleele on the return leg at Peter Mokaba Stadium on September 29. ENDS