This was Gunners’ second home game played at the National Stadium this season. But they were expected to use the recently refurbished Lobatse Town Council Stadium for all their home games. Gunners’ assistant coach, Stanley Mwaanga hinted that the Gaborone stadium could be the team’s base for this season following the weekend win.
“As you can see, Gunners is a well supported team. If we play in Gaborone it is an advantage for us and also playing in this ground. So that ground in Lobatse, that is not a football pitch, this is the pitch, you just saw the football that we played on this pitch,” said Mwaanga after the game. He further said the National Stadium is best suited for the type of football his side wants to play. It was a rather lousy first half but Gunners had better chances compared to their opponents.
A quarter of an hour in, Thamiso Gagoanngwe directed his shot wide off the post from just outside the danger area. The team continued to have better chances at goal but were let down by their decision making in the final third. Notwane struggled to make any significant moves but defended well for the majority of the half. In the last minute of the first half, Boipelo Oaitse was afforded space inside the area but could not hit the target with his attempt. It was level at 0-0 at the break. Three minutes into the second half, Boyo Lechaena set up Oaitse with a long ball but the latter directed his lowly stricken attempt off target. From inside the box, substitute Thato Gabatlhokwe pulled a superb save from the goalkeeper as Notwane looked for an opener.
Gunners took the lead on the 65th minute as Ofentse Nato tucked in from close range after Matshula’s attempt rebounded off the cross bar. Oaitse was later denied by the goalkeeper from inside the area on the 76th minute. Three minutes later, Gabatlhokwe tried to squeeze one from a tight angle but could only hit the side net. Notwane came closer to an equaliser with six minutes to time but Tlotlo Kgosimore’s attempt hit the cross bar. Gunners held on to claim their first win in three games as Notwane continue to drop points. Gunners now have two wins in their home games played at the National Stadium but were hammered 3-0 by City Polar in their long awaited return to the Lobatse Town Council Stadium.
The teams
Gunners: Ofentse Tauyatswala, Pako Obakeng, Thato Bolelweng, Mosimanegape Ntwaetsile, Benson Mosokobanji, Ofentse Nato, Atholang Jeremane (Gape Thibedi), Kgotso Phuti (Kabo Matshula), Boipelo Oaitse, Thamiso Gagoanngwe, Boyo Lechaena (Buang Dithebe) Notwane: Phatsimo Mogweng, Donald Botshoma, Emmanuel Ramatoroko, Lemogang Kabo (Tlotlo Kgosimore), Kudzanani Machadzani, Sithembile Mbuqe, Thabang Ofitlhile, Omphemetse Motaung, Mphoyamodimo Keiponye, Bonolo Pono (Thato Goitsemang), Emmanuel Moeng (Thato Gabatlhokwe) Cautions: Mosokobanji
Gunners 1 (Nato 65th) Notwane 0
