New Orapa coach feels the heat
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday January 29, 2024 15:29
The gaffer began his reign with a goalless draw against Holy Ghost in a Botswana Premier League tie played at the National Stadium yesterday afternoon. Following the Sunday draw, the Ostriches remain in the bottom half, moving an inch from 12th spot to ninth with just 14 points from a possible 39.
“Look, this is a very hot seat I cannot deny it and Orapa United is a big club and where we are sitting is not the usual position for Orapa United. We sat down; we need to improve as a team and we have new players who will need to adjust quickly to make sure we improve the position of the club.
So far so good, to start with a point and a clean sheet, we just need to score goals,” Tiiso said after the draw. It was a positive start from both teams as players braved the scorching heat in a bid for an early goal. The hosts came close in the sixth minute but Lesley Ramaphane’s shot at the near post was saved by the keeper.
Gofaone Mabaya, at the other end missed the goal by a whisker with a shot from outside the box in the 21st minute. On the half hour mark, Thabang Mosige cleared a cross directed at the unmarked Ramaphane inside the box as the pace of the game heated up. Daniel Kedidimetse produced a superb fingertip save to deny Lemogang Maswena’s low drive in the 36th minute. The teams went to the break deadlocked after an entertaining half. Kitso Kgopa missed a sitter for Holy Ghost as a cross located him on the blind spot but he shot wide off the mark two minutes in to the second half.
The visitors looked the better of the two teams but could not break the opposition defence. Against the run of play, Kgomotso Kgopegang had a snapshot but was superbly denied by the keeper in the 65th minute. Substitute, Stephen Sibanda was denied a debut goal by an on rushing keeper as Orapa produced the best chance of the half in the 73rd minute. Holy Ghost's Micheal Pillar had his free-kick attempt parried over the bar with seven minutes to play. Orapa thought they had won in the last minute of regulation play as the keeper failed to deal with a long cross.
The ball hit the post and Tinashe Bakalashe tapped in from close but the effort was ruled offside.
The teams Ghost: Daniel Kedidimetse, Onalethata Obopile, Denver Meyer (Aobakwe Ntshekisang), Kenosi Semadi, Kgakgamatso Ramatshosa, Michael Pillar, Christopher Kasolo, Kgomotso Kgopegang, Kitso Kgopa (Joshua Ngoma), Lesley Ramaphane, Patrick Kaunda (Abang Molobe) Orapa: Lesenya Malapela, Mpho Kgaswane, Thabang Mosige, Tapiwa Nyamanjiva, Ratlhogo Ratlhogo, Koketso Majafi, Tshepo Malgas (Stephen Sibanda), Gofaone Mabaya (Tinashe Bakalashe), Lemogang Maswena (Eric Ookame), Kelvin Bingala (Kleophias Uiseb), Baokeditswe Talane (Kagisano Mungu) Cautions: Bingala, Ookame
Holy Ghost 0 Orapa 0