Having delivered the Reds' first league championship in over decade in the previous season, GU assistant coach, Pontsho Moloi has said he is looking to defend the title.
“We will always go for titles and anything available and nothing has changed this season. We will do the same this season. It is not going to be an easy season because when you are somewhere there, being the champions, everyone comes for you. We will try do it the best way we know how to do it and we will do it,” Moloi said.
On the opposite bench, Letang ‘Rasta’ Kgengwenyane, despite the loss, predicts a positive campaign for his side. “We will have a very good season. We anticipate fatigue creeping in later on because of the very long season and scientifically it is only natural.
We as coaches have enough time to look at this squad so we just need to ensure our players recover well and relax the muscles to injuries,” he said. The Reds had two early chances with Onkabetse Makgantai's effort halted by Gaamangwe Thabe’ tackle from inside the box on the fourth minute.
Two minutes later Mpho Kgaswane’s strike from just outside the box sailed over the bar. From facing early threats, BDF XI recovered well into the tie but did not produce any goalscoring chances.
On other hand they struggled to break the opposition defense as it ended 0-0 in a very dull first half. Seven minutes in to the second half, Thato Kebue at the far post saw his shot going wide from a corner kick.
Six minutes later, Thero Setsile was at the end of a good move but his shot was blocked for a corner. The Reds finally opened the scores with substitute Thatayaone Kgamanyane heading into the top corner on the 65th minute. GU were 2-0 ahead on the 76th minute as Sizwe Twala beat the goalkeeper to the bottom corner for his first GU league goal.
Twala with four minutes to time missed on a brace as his headed effort went just over the bar.
The Teams: BDF XI: Kagiso Matlou, Gaamangwe Thabe. Emmanuel Ramoswete, Ronald Setshego, Onkabetse Seforo, Godiraone Modingwane, Tefo Molefe (Oratile Taunyane), Confidence Senwelo, Mbonisi Ncube, Thabo Metlhayotlhe, Aobakwe Tshobo (Godfrey Tauyatswala)
GU: Goitseone Phoko, Alford Velaphi (Sizwe Twala), Mothusi Johnson, Kennedy Amutenya, Thato Kebue, Duncan Otieno (Thatayaone Kgamanyane), Thatayaone Ramatlapeng, Mothusi Cooper (Lebogang Ditsele), Onkabetse Makgantai (Gape Thibedi), Mpho Kgaswane, Thero Setsile (Tshepo Malgas)
Cautions: Molefe, Setshego, Tauyatswala, Kebue
BDF 0 GU 2 (Kgamanyane 65th, Twala 76th)
