After the win, Connor who joined Matebele during pre season from South Africa, said he is all about winning and he is here just for that. In his first game under Matebele colours, the Irish mentor managed to see through that the Kgatleng-based side turn the scores around after trailing on the 14th minute. "As a new manager in a club, the first thing you wanna do is win. So we got our first win, we got the three goals. I think we played a good brand of football and a very controlled game," he happily said. Despite the comfortable win, the new gaffer was disgruntled with how the ‘Army Boys’ broke the deadlock early in the game with the help of a deflection. "We didn't start off at the tempo I wanted and that therefore gave them some energies and some tempo in the game. And all the chances came from long balls because we didn't press well. Once we got our press right we were okay," Connor said.
He said he hopes Matebele's impressive start in the 2024-2025 season continues after the FIFA international break and finish at higher place than last season. "Last season we finished 11th so we need to finish higher than that and I would like to think that with this structure, we can do it. What we cannot afford to do is to start the way we did against big teams or we will be punished," warned Connor. From the first whistle of the game, BDF XI looked like the winning team playing high up in the field. The ‘Army Boys’ were rewarded for their attack with a goal on the 14th through forward, Norris Mwamba, hitting a curler, which deflected inside the net. BDF XI did not keep their foot off the pedal as they searched to double their lead. After half the hour mark of being on the receiving end, Matebele levelled matters through Emmanuel Thabe after BDF XI's defence was caught napping and failed to clear the ball inside their box.
Few minutes before the break, Kagiso Matlou put his body on the line to deny Thabe his brace after a loose ball fell for him. In the second half, it was all Matebele launching successive attacks. Matlou could not keep Thabe at bay as this time around he managed to get his brace on the 63rd minute after he faced the goalkeeper on a one-on-one situation. Looking for an equaliser, BDF XI hit the woodwork through Ronald Setshego. Chances of BDF XI settling for a draw went out of the window after Matebele scored the third goal with Kutlo Molelowamodimo putting the ball over Matlou's head to seal the win on the 71st minute. The game ended 3-1 in favour of Matebele.
The teams
BDF XI: Kagiso Matlou, Ronald Setshego, Pelontle Lerole, Motlomelo Mkwanazi, Onkabetse Seforo, Banele Ndzabanzaba, Odirile Lekoba (Tshepang Kelebogile), Godiraone Modingwane, Onkemetse Powe (Rentse Kekabetse), Norris Mwamba, Poloko Nkalolang
Matebele: Tshepang Molefe, Bernard Kebotseng, Obonye Motswate, Pholoso Mapitse, Utlwang Ramakgathi, Mompati Mbidzo (Stoffel Witbeen), Alphius Selefho, Moses Shidolo, Boyo Lechaena (Dirang Pilane), Kutlo Molelowamodimo (Ogotseng Keletso), Emmanuel Thabe.
BDF XI 1(Mwamba 14th) Matebele 3 (Thabe 32nd, 63rd, Molelowamodimo 71st)
