Mamoja's poor run continues
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday October 8, 2013 00:42
This was again evident in their league tie against Wonder Sporting at the Francistown Stadium, which they lost by a solitary goal in the last moments of the game.
In fact to say the Mamoja Diski (as ECCO are lovingly known) mentor Atshele Molapi was not a frustrated man on Saturday would be an understatement. He nearly turned into a pillar of salt with worry.
He was on the edge as his charges missed sitting ducks all afternoon and then sacrilegiously in the last minutes of the match, they took a nap, which resulted in a goal by be MOBILE Premier League debutants, Wonder Sporting. This was Wonder Sporting's first win in the league.
Ecco seemed reluctant to stamp their authority on the match.
Both sides had little opportunities in the first stanza of the match with Wonder's notable opportunity coming on the 12th minute when skipper Betsho Pius's shot went agonisingly wide after a commotion in the Ecco goal mouth. Four minutes before the break, Mandlaenkosi Sibanda would set up right winger Mogomotsi Samson who shot straight at the Wonder keeper Bokamoso Moeba.
On the 45th minute, ECCO talisman Tendai Nyumasi who looked out of sorts for the entire match and had to pave way for Gosaitse Manuel midway the second half, sent his shot over the bar after being offered space to shoot in the box.
In the second half, Ecco dominated proceedings. Sibanda, who attracted the boo boys for his failure to release the ball to other players early, easily navigated his way through the visitors' defence 59 minutes into the match. However, he delayed pulling the trigger and was eventually dispossessed by an impressive Katlego Masole. Moments later, Sibanda would again have his shot blocked by Masole in the goal area after being set up by Manuel.
Wonder who rarely tested the home side goalie nearly got the lead in the 71st minute of the game when Mkhulule Moyo was set up by Pius but his shot was cleverly blocked by keeper Michael Onkutule.
Ecco skipper Emmanuel Nlu, who had little to do at the back for the entire encounter, could have sent the Mamoja faithful into excitement in the 82nd minute. The agile defender completed Ecco's bad day sending his shot wide after combining well with Sibanda.
Three minutes later, ECCO paid the price for their wastefulness. Defensive midfielder Mmilidzi Zecco Makafiri was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box and referee Keabetswe Dintwa pointed to the spot. Masole converted from the penalty. The goal seemed to have slowed down Ecco as the home side struggled to combine for the last five minutes of the match.
Since the beginning of the season, ECCO has lost four games.