Matebele Gun Down Santos

By Boitumelo Khutsafalo
Correspondent | Monday April 2, 2007 00:00

 

Their game with Santos stared in attacking mode but chances were few. Santos' goalkeeper, Thabo Ntsiapane made a good save from Nelson 'Viola' Gabolwelwe in the 16th minute but Mpho Mabogo failed to capitalise on the rebound. With BDF XI's most-feared striker, Bernard Simakwezi tightly marked by Pius Kolagano, Mabogo was left to do the damage.  Santos' winger, Innocent Ranku was unlucky when he shot  the cross bar after a slight touch from BDF XI goalkeeper, Modiri Marumo. In the 34th minute, Mabogo put BDF XI ahead with a brilliant header from a good cross.  A minute later, Kgakgamatso Pharo's shot was well saved by Marumo.

In the second half, BDF XI had more determination and direction. Simakwezi managed to sneak away from Kolagano but his shot missed the target by a whisker with Santos' goalkeeper well beaten in the 51st minute.  A minute later, Mabogo scored his second goal after making a solo run and beating Santos' goalkeeper at the far post with a curling shot. In the 60th minute, Simakwezi's goal was ruled offside. Tumo Selogamaano increased the lead in the 66th minute after beating Santos defenders to chip the ball above the advancing goalkeeper.

Santos' midfielder, Vincent Phiri tried hard in the midfield but his former teammate, Patrick Motsepe was impressive for BDF XI. Motsepe gave Santos a hard time every time he got the ball.

Matebele could have made it 4-0 in the 70th minute but Gabolwelwe's shot hit the cross bar.

BDF XI coach Stanley Tshosane praised his charges for a good performance after the victory. He said that he expected an entertaining game as both teams have been enjoying good form recently. 'We created more chances than them (Santos) and scored half of those chances and that is what I think made the difference today,' he said.

Tshosane praised Zebras' nippy midfielder Phiri for his performance. 'I think if we can put more focus on development, then we are going very far. You can see the young boy is brilliant and it shows he has been guided properly,' he said. Santos' coach Clever Hunda said that they conceded easy goals but gave credit to BDF XI who were more organised on the day. 'Communication was lacking in our defence and BDF XI made sure they arrived at the ball first and they attacked well. But credit must be given to BDF XI for playing well,' he said. He added that the break they had also contributed a lot to the below-par performance.