The draw shattered City Polar's promotion dream and ended the season on position four. They needed a win the last day to win the title and get automatic promotion to the Premier League.
“It is very painful to lose the league on the last day. We needed just a goal to get promotion but we failed. The boys were too cautious; the results went into their heads rather to play the game itself. We can be proud of our campaign but what hurts most is that we did not get elevated to the Premier League. It is very, very painful for the players, the coaches and the supporters,” Mothibi said. In a very tight affair just a goal could have made a huge difference for either Matebejana or City Polar.
The latter entered the tie played at the SSG Ground sitting at the summit of the log standings and needed a win to attain their first elite league promotion. On the other hand, Matebejana were 10th on the log ahead of the tie and also needed a win to avoid relegation. The game, however, did not live up to the hype despite having so much at stake as both sides showed cold feet in the afternoon.
City Polar had two-goal worth chances in the first 10 minutes and on both occasions, Chabaesele Mositwane could not find the target. From then, the game went a bit quiet until Jackie Tapologo provided an assist for Mositwane from a free-kick and the latter's header went widely off the post on the 22nd minute. The two teams had an almost similar approach to the game.
As the teams went into half time, City Polar were now down to the fourth place while Matebejana were destined for the drop. The desperation for the goal showed in the early minutes of the second half. On the 55th minute, Matebajana’s Mpaphi Chinyepi showed excellent foot work inside the box to lose his marker but was let down by his poor finishing.
‘Tigerkloof’ had an upper hand for the majority of the half. On the 61st minute, Mbaakanyi Makafiri shot over the bar from inside the box. Another chance was wasted for Matebejana once again on the 75th minute as Thuso Nganunu was denied by the goalkeeper on a one-on-one situation. The two players clashed and penalty calls echoed from the Matebejana technical bench.
However, the referee did not award it. The two teams settled for a draw as City Polar missed a Premier League promotion while Matebejana were relegated to third tie football. Matebejana's head coach, Kabelo Mlandu felt his team could have gotten more on the game and felt the team will bounce back stronger next season.
The teams:
Matebejana: Mpho Mantsho, Selatoleng Dikole, Patrick Bonang, Mbaakanyi Makafiri, Theo Shadikong (Molosiwa Molosiwa), Nelson Totego, Tefo Molefe, Katlo Setlhoka, Thuso Nganunu (Wandanani Aron), Mpaphi Chinyepi
City Polar: Tshomarelo More, Kamogelo Kashiwa, Gofaone Molapi, Jackie Tapologo, Mpho Ramogonono, Lame Mogwera, Moemedi Monaka, Kabelo Thari (Arthur Coetzee), Thabo Phatsima (Miguel Kgomo), Chabaesele Mositwane (Abubakar Mutawakil), Emmanuel Thabe
Caution: Thari
Matebejana 0 City Polar 0
