Ramoreboli comments on Mangolo’s shock omission
Chakalisa Dube | Monday December 11, 2023 17:55
Galaxy lost the match that was played at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium 2-0. Mangolo has been the standout player for Galaxy and the national team in recent months. He has also been linked with several clubs abroad. He was named on the bench but did not feature at all against ASEC.
Therefore, Chicco Molefe started in his place. Molefe was very solid although he offered little when going forward like Mangolo would do.
Some even speculated that Mangolo might have been dropped because of disciplinary issues. But in a post-match press conference, Ramoreboli maintained that the decision to drop the highly rated left back was purely intentional. “Molefe is also among the best left backs in the country. Whoever plays will do the job.
It was a case of deciding who should start the match,” Ramoreboli said. He also refused to criticise his players after they were outperformed by the Ivorian side. Lesagaripa lacked aggression and at times looked disjointed. Ramoreboli said he expected that at one-point his players will make mistakes and the team will lose a match. He added: “The boys came into this match pushing and fighting to win it. If it does not happen, it affects them psychologically.
I understand how they feel because they wanted to win. You don’t come here and start pointing fingers. We have done our best. Unfortunately it was not our day. We will learn from our mistakes,” he said. Ramoreboli added that he is still very much optimistic that the team will get more points in the remaining three matches. “We really thank God for giving us four points and we will still get more. Losing one match does not mean that we should start doubting the process. We have lost just like any other team,” he noted.
Substitute, Sankara Karamoko scored all the goals for ASEC. He opened his account in 57th minute from close range when he pounced onto Mofosse Tresor’s pass inside the box after a poor clearance by defender Thabo Leinenyane. His second goal came in 79th minute after a neat cross from N’guessan Pokou. ASEC are now top of Group B with seven points, while Galaxy remain second on four points. Waydad Athletic, who lost their two opening matches, are now third after defeating Simba on Saturday night in Morocco. Simba are bottom of the group standings with two points after three rounds of matches.
The teams:
Galaxy: Goitseone Phoko, Doctor David, Lesego Keredilwe, Gilbert Baruti, Leinenyane, Molefe, Moagi Sechele, Fortunate Thulare (Cleopas Dube), Daniel Msendami (Gift Moyo), Thatayaone Ramatlapeng (Wendell Rudath), Thabang Sesinyi
ASEC: Ayayi Charles Folly, Mohamed Kone, Beugre Gbakre, Wonlo Coulibaly, Karidioula Mofosse, Salifou Diarrassouba (Sankara Karamoko), Anthony Tra Bi Tra, Koffi Christian Raoul Kouame, Essis Baudelaire Fulgence, N'Guessan Pokou, Franck Carlos Zouzou
Galaxy 0 ASEC 2 (Karamoko 57th, 79th)