Amahot hopes go up in smoke
Boniface Keakabetse | Monday April 13, 2015 15:57
The homeside absorbed intense pressure in the first 15 minutes and took the lead in the 35th minute through Thabo Marumo.
Before the goal, Hotspurs target man, Thapelo Sanoya rounded a defender and the Tigers’ goalkeeper only for the referee to rule that he was offside before he received the ball.
The decision did not please the Hotspurs bench who fumed that the referee was biased. At half time, Tigers were leading 1-0. In the second half, Tigers continued to press for another goal and it duly came in the 59th minute when Welcome Patrick pounced from a Thabo Marumo cross.
Despite making early substitutions bringing in Lebogang Karale for Gaopalelwe George, Marumo Tumelo for Thatayaone Gabathuse, Boitshepo Ramodisa for Tebogo Raphaka, Hotspurs failed to find the back of the net. Amahot resorted to power play, which regularly left them exposed to counter attacks.
Patrick sealed victory for Tigers in the 80th minute, tapping in another cross to get his brace. In the post-match interview, Hotspurs coach, Geoffrey Dindi Ranthoka fumed over the referee’s performance.
He said his team was denied three good scoring chances in the first half. He said their chances of qualifying to the Premier League have dissipated.
“It is very painful for us to have been in pole position throughout the first round and most of the second round only to lose it at the last minute.”
Ranthoka said they had the same experience in the 2010-2011 season when they were in control, but went down again at the last minute.
He said one of their undoing is biased officiating whenever they play in Maun and Kasane.
He said officials from these regions favour local teams.
He said Amahot will go back to the drawing board to plot another campaign to qualify for the Premier League. Maun Tigers coach, Antony Timothy said they are happy with the three points, which will ensure that they stay in the First division.
He said they are still on a rebuilding phase and they are using an entirely new team from the one they used in their 2013-2014 campaign.
Hotspurs will play Kazungula Ferry Wanderers in their final game of the season next week. Kazungula and another Serowe side, Green Lovers are in contention to win the second spot after Miscellaneous gained automatic promotion.
The battle will be settled next week when all the teams play their last games. The runners-up in the north will play Mogoditshane Fighters who are the First Division South runners up.
The line-ups:
Mahalapye Hotspurs: Kagiso Khalipha, Mompati Oabile, Edwin Raditsebe, Odiretse Lekoko, Thatayaone Gabathuse (Marumo Tumelo), Tebogo Raphaka (Boithepho Ramodisa), Lesego Mothabankwe, Onkokame Matsela, Gaolapelwe George (Lebogang Karale), Thapelo Sanoya
Maun Tigers: Bokamoso Makoba, Bofelo Marumo, Pontsho Molwane, Thabo Marumo, Jenamiso Tanyala, Reuben Ndozi, Leornard Kangodi, Kesaobaka Dikole, Thato Otsetswe, Ntwakgolo Kebonwape, Welcome Patrick
Maun Tigers 3 (Thabo Marumo 35th, Welcome Patrick, 59 80th)
Hotspurs 0