Cranes Soar Above Zebras
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday June 6, 2016 14:44
Uganda’s win also ended the Zebras’ hopes of qualifying for the 2017 AFCON showpiece billed for Gabon. It was the Zebras’ first loss at the Francistown stadium since the facility was officially opened last September.
The encounter began at a slow pace. Five minutes passed with both sides trying to find their feet. The Zebras tried to loop balls forward while Uganda worked the ball upfront with short passes. The visitors’ calm approach earned them a goal just under 10 minutes.
Faruku Miya chipped the ball over the slumbering Zebras defence and Kizito Luwaga neatly controlled, rounded Kabelo Dambe and buried into an empty net. The home side continued struggling to reach the visitors 18-yard box.
The Cranes came close in the 24th minute as star striker, Geoffrey Massa’s pile driver from 25 yards went inches over the crossbar. Uganda pressed high forward, and Joel Mogorosi was often left isolated.
Upfront Uganda picked well the pockets behind the Zebras defence, exposing the feeble Zebras backline. In the 29th minute, the Zebras escaped a penalty as Benson Ochaya posted a cross and Tebogo Sosome handled in the box, but the referee ignored the calls. Lesenya Ramoraka produced a 45th minute attack, but his attempted cross went over and the referee sent the teams to recess. From the dugout, Onkabetse Makgantai replaced Kabelo Seakanyeng and he proved his worth eight minutes later.
Mogakolodi Ngele’s power shot ricocheted on the defence and Makgantai pounced to bury the low ball home.
But the joy was shortlived as the visitors were back in front three minutes later. An almost identical ball to Uganda’s first goal exposed the Zebras defence. This time Luwaga chipped the ball and Khalid Awucho received, picked the spot and made it 2-1.
Uganda pressed quickly off the ball and packed the midfield, thus separated the Zebras twin strikers from the rest of the team. The home side was forced to play long balls. Lemponye Tshireletso gave the unwavering supporters a gleam of hope when his free kick hit the crossbar three minutes from time, which saw their hopes go up in smoke. Cranes coach, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic who sounded knowledgeable about Botswana football said that his players played according to instructions. “The way we have scored is the way we had planned. We knew that their defence was very slow. We dominated proceedings in the first half, but in the second half they introduced ‘Big Lesh’ and Mankgantai who made things better,” he said. Micho said he fancies his team’s chances of earning a place at the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.
Peter Butler was not available for the interview.
Teams:
Botswana: Kabelo Dambe, Boitumelo Mafoko, Tebogo Sosome, Tapiwa Gadibolae, Lebogang Ditsile, Galabgwe Moyana, Kabelo Seakanyeng (Onkabetse Makgantai), Mogakolodi Ngele, Ofentse Nato (Lesego Galenamotlhale), Joel Mogorosi, Lesenya Ramoraka
Uganda: Denis Onyango, Geofrey Massa (Arnold Okwi), Denis Iguma, Benson Ochaya, Isaac Isinde, Wasswa Mawanda, Juuko Murushid, Khalid Awucho, Tonny Mawejje, Kizito Luwaga (Yassar Mugerwa), Faruku Miya (Godfrey Walusimbi)
Uganda’s win also ended the Zebras’ hopes of qualifying for the 2017 AFCON showpiece billed for Gabon. It was the Zebras’ first loss at the Francistown stadium since the facility was officially opened last September.
The encounter began at a slow pace. Five minutes passed with both sides trying to find their feet. The Zebras tried to loop balls forward while Uganda worked the ball upfront with short passes. The visitors’ calm approach earned them a goal just under 10 minutes.
Faruku Miya chipped the ball over the slumbering Zebras defence and Kizito Luwaga neatly controlled, rounded Kabelo Dambe and buried into an empty net. The home side continued struggling to reach the visitors 18-yard box.
The Cranes came close in the 24th minute as star striker, Geoffrey Massa’s pile driver from 25 yards went inches over the crossbar. Uganda pressed high forward, and Joel Mogorosi was often left isolated.
Upfront Uganda picked well the pockets behind the Zebras defence, exposing the feeble Zebras backline. In the 29th minute, the Zebras escaped a penalty as Benson Ochaya posted a cross and Tebogo Sosome handled in the box, but the referee ignored the calls. Lesenya Ramoraka produced a 45th minute attack, but his attempted cross went over and the referee sent the teams to recess. From the dugout, Onkabetse Makgantai replaced Kabelo Seakanyeng and he proved his worth eight minutes later.
Mogakolodi Ngele’s power shot ricocheted on the defence and Makgantai pounced to bury the low ball home.
But the joy was shortlived as the visitors were back in front three minutes later. An almost identical ball to Uganda’s first goal exposed the Zebras defence. This time Luwaga chipped the ball and Khalid Awucho received, picked the spot and made it 2-1.
Uganda pressed quickly off the ball and packed the midfield, thus separated the Zebras twin strikers from the rest of the team. The home side was forced to play long balls. Lemponye Tshireletso gave the unwavering supporters a gleam of hope when his free kick hit the crossbar three minutes from time, which saw their hopes go up in smoke. Cranes coach, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic who sounded knowledgeable about Botswana football said that his players played according to instructions. “The way we have scored is the way we had planned. We knew that their defence was very slow. We dominated proceedings in the first half, but in the second half they introduced ‘Big Lesh’ and Mankgantai who made things better,” he said. Micho said he fancies his team’s chances of earning a place at the 2017 AFCON in Gabon.
Peter Butler was not available for the interview.
Teams:
Botswana: Kabelo Dambe, Boitumelo Mafoko, Tebogo Sosome, Tapiwa Gadibolae, Lebogang Ditsile, Galabgwe Moyana, Kabelo Seakanyeng (Onkabetse Makgantai), Mogakolodi Ngele, Ofentse Nato (Lesego Galenamotlhale), Joel Mogorosi, Lesenya Ramoraka
Uganda: Denis Onyango, Geofrey Massa (Arnold Okwi), Denis Iguma, Benson Ochaya, Isaac Isinde, Wasswa Mawanda, Juuko Murushid, Khalid Awucho, Tonny Mawejje, Kizito Luwaga (Yassar Mugerwa), Faruku Miya (Godfrey Walusimbi)
Cautions: Ditsele, Juuko, Makgantai, Mafoko, Mogorosi