GUNNERS BOOST SURVIVAL HOPES
| Monday February 3, 2014 15:09
GUNNERS BOOST SURVIVAL HOPES
Chakalisa Dube
Staff Writer
FRANCISTOWN: Visiting Extension Gunners of Lobatse boosted their survival hopes over the weekend when they beat fellow strugglers, TAFIC 3-0 at the Francistown Stadium before a capacity crowd in a be MOBILE Premier League clash.
TAFIC who were humiliated 5-0 by Uniao Flamengo Santos nearly a week ago posted one of their worst performances on home soil in many years in the match against Gunners. They never clicked for the entire match. Matters were not helped by an inexperienced defence that failed to rise to the occassion. The loss to Gunners means that TAFIC have conceded eight goals in two matches and are bottom in the standings.
Gunners are also in the relegation zone in the league though their form is improving. With their trade mark passing game, they settled quickly in the match and threatened TAFIC as early as the seventh minute when right back, Katlego Koobake's cross found an unmarked Francis Kanda who sent his shot wide.With 13 minutes on the clock, Gunners penalty appeals were turned down by referee Keabetswe Dintwa after a TAFIC defender appeared to have handled in the box. But there was denying Mapantsula in the 22nd minute when Pako Modikwa headed home a Tshepho Molefe cross. TAFIC tried to arouse themselves after the goal with Edwin Mothagodi pulling the strings but Gunners dealt them a blow again in the 31st minute to take a 2-0 lead. Former Township Rollers and Gaborone United midfielder, Molefe who also had a brief stint at TAFIC a few years ago found the back of the net with a long range free kick. Striker Francis Kanda would take the match beyond the reach of TAFIC moments before the break with a low shot that beat the advancing goalkeeper, Abedinico Morapedi. In the second half, TAFIC continued with their poor showing. Even the introduction of strikers Anderson Siphambe and Mamono Bobby Mathews who recently re-joined the club from Gunners early in the second half proved useless.
Midfielder Tafadzwa Maingiri who had a very dull match for a player of his calibre tested Gunners' goalkeeper with two long range shots, but they were easily dealt with by Wagarre Dikago who was on holiday for the entire match.
Only the recently signed Mothagodi and midfielder Mathew Tendai Nyamadzawo who were both given an attacking role showed promise for TAFIC but they were let down by what appeared to be lack of fitness. Gunners who continued with their neat passing game in the second half were on several occasions denied by an alert Morapedi.
TAFIC who were humiliated 5-0 by Uniao Flamengo Santos nearly a week ago posted one of their worst performances on home soil in many years in the match against Gunners. They never clicked for the entire match. Matters were not helped by an inexperienced defence that failed to rise to the occassion. The loss to Gunners means that TAFIC have conceded eight goals in two matches and are bottom in the standings.
Gunners are also in the relegation zone in the league though their form is improving. With their trade mark passing game, they settled quickly in the match and threatened TAFIC as early as the seventh minute when right back, Katlego Koobake's cross found an unmarked Francis Kanda who sent his shot wide.With 13 minutes on the clock, Gunners penalty appeals were turned down by referee Keabetswe Dintwa after a TAFIC defender appeared to have handled in the box. But there was denying Mapantsula in the 22nd minute when Pako Modikwa headed home a Tshepho Molefe cross. TAFIC tried to arouse themselves after the goal with Edwin Mothagodi pulling the strings but Gunners dealt them a blow again in the 31st minute to take a 2-0 lead. Former Township Rollers and Gaborone United midfielder, Molefe who also had a brief stint at TAFIC a few years ago found the back of the net with a long range free kick. Striker Francis Kanda would take the match beyond the reach of TAFIC moments before the break with a low shot that beat the advancing goalkeeper, Abedinico Morapedi.
In the second half, TAFIC continued with their poor showing. Even the introduction of strikers Anderson Siphambe and Mamono Bobby Mathews who recently re-joined the club from Gunners early in the second half proved useless. Midfielder Tafadzwa Maingiri who had a very dull match for a player of his calibre tested Gunners' goalkeeper with two long range shots, but they were easily dealt with by Wagarre Dikago who was on holiday for the entire match.
Only the recently signed Mothagodi and midfielder Mathew Tendai Nyamadzawo who were both given an attacking role showed promise for TAFIC but they were let down by what appeared to be lack of fitness. Gunners who continued with their neat passing game in the second half were on several occasions denied by an alert Morapedi.