Fifteen minutes of horror define Chiefs' season
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday December 2, 2023 10:19
The team is eight points from the promotion spot and just five above the relegation positions. Kowa said a poor start in the second half has massively impacted Chiefs' season thus far. He said his side was winning 1-0 against Tlokweng United but conceded in the second half, as the match ended in a 1-1 draw a fortnight ago. Before the Tlokweng game, Magosi had led by a goal but conceded inside the first 15 minutes of the second half to play to a 1-1 draw against City Polar. Over the past weekend, Magosi's first 15 minutes of the second-half horror reached a peak, as the team played to a 3-3 draw against Notwane. Magosi were 3-0 up in the first 30 minutes, but Toronto scored two goals inside the first 15 minutes of the second half to steal a point from the match.
'The first 15 minutes of the second half, there is something that I am finding hard to explain and understand myself, but something is happening and it is costing us games. I said at halftime (against Notwane) that when we go back to the field we need to kick the ball over and out, even if it's to the river, let us do that. I made it clear to my boys we cannot be scored in the second half. If we manage that, we are okay, but what happened in the first 15 minutes? Notwane go and scores.' 'What I am worried about is what happens inside the first 15 minutes of the second half. We cannot say we play badly, but these first 15 minutes are a problem,' Kowa said.
But with four games left in the first half of the campaign, the coach remains confident his side will be in contention at the end of the season. Magosi will be desperate for points this weekend when they face Extension Gunners. The former Botswana Premier League giants will reminisce about the old days with a 7pm kick-off time at the National Stadium. Chiefs would know they face an opponent of their might as Mapantsula sit in the fifth spot. It will be the first meeting between the two sides in the second-tier football. In other games, City Polar will take a long trip to Kgalagadi where Desert Nxau lie in wait at the Tsabong VDC Grounds. URI Black Forest welcome Mogoditshane Fighters at the Forest Arena. Leaders, Young Stars face a stern test against rookies, UB Hawks at the Galaxy Stadium. On Sunday afternoon, Prisons XI and Notwane face off at the SSG Grounds, while Uniano Flamengo Santos will play host to Tlokweng United at the Gabane United Grounds. All afternoon games kick off at 4:30pm.