15 Oct 2023

Tsabong-based outfit, Desert Nxau did not wilt under pressure playing against the experienced Mochudi Centre Chiefs holding them on home ground to a a goalless draw during Debswana First Division South League encounter on Saturday.

Chiefs put up a classy performance at Tsabong VDC Grounds in an attempt to put Desert Nxau under pressure but they responded with colourful play on field in a match that saw both teams struggling to find a way past each other’s defense.

“We came prepared for the game. We were sure that we will get three points but because we were playing with a team that was also prepared we were unfortunate. Our intention was to take the game straight to Desert Nxau.

We did not want to give them chance.

We wanted to get the goal in the first 15 minutes to put them under pressure.

We started with a very high pace, high intensity but along the way we dropped the pace and we allowed them to get into the game,” said Mochudi Centre Chiefs care taker coach, Thomas Gouwe in a post-match interview.

Chiefs, which had upper hand in both the first and second half created more goal chances but their goal attempts were off range.

 “It is becoming a challenge for us to convert because in the last season we created a lot of chances but there were no goals,” said Gouwe.

He said during the past week in preparation for the game, the team worked on tactical approach to score trying to overcome the barren season but they failed to make it. “We created a lot of chances but the boys did not keep cool heads when they entered the box and this cost us,” he says.

Desert Nxau coach, Aobakwe Seloselong said their preparations were spot on.

“When you play a big team like Center Chiefs you have to give it your all.”

Seloselong said they had redeemed themselves after 20 long years of not making it to First Division and were ready to prove themselves.  The draw, he said meant a lot to them as they had just entered First Division and were playing against Chiefs with more experienced players who played at premier league.

Seloselong plans to stay in First Division for a long time and has learnt a few lessons from the game and will correct some mistakes.

“Drawing against a Premier League material is a plus for us.

It shows that if we can prepare well for the next game, we can do better,” he said.

Mochudi Centre Chiefs captain and striker Remington Masuku was not pleased with their performance, “I am not happy with the results.

Mochudi Centre Chiefs is a big brand, we cannot come here and get a draw not that I am undermining our opponents but this is Mochudi Centre chiefs.

There is a lot of pressure when you play for this club,” he said.

Desert Nxau captain, Evans Onneng on the other hand said Mochudi Centre Chiefs was an experienced team with experienced players but they managed to get a draw because they did not give them that respect.”

“Had we bowed to their big brand they could have beaten us. We went all out because we were hungry for a win, we also want to be a force to be reckoned with,” he said. 

He also said they were alive to the fact that as freshmen in First Division they had a lot of work ahead. ENDS