Makwengwe oversaw the club’s first match in the Premier League in over five years as TAFIC came up against Orapa United on Saturday. The teams played to a fairly engaging 1-1 draw at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium. The view from TAFIC supporters after the match was that the team needs a few experienced campaigners particularly at the back and upfront. The majority of TAFIC players helped the club earn promotion to the elite league last season. Local clubs were last week Friday given an extra seven days to register new players. But Makwengwe has maintained that no new signings will be coming in at the club.
“I did not design the team. I am working with what I found at TAFIC. But I am happy with what I see. They are responding so well. I see a sense of fighting in them. There is a great fighting spirit,” he said. “The quality of players I need are contracted, ...the players that I have worked with in other teams. As for the ones who are not contracted, most of them cannot give you an edge. Otherwise I wanted to wait for the January transfer window,” he added. Orapa United were favourites going into the weekend league opener but the hosts were courageous. The Ostriches had much of the ball in both stanzas. It was clear that the visitors’ strategy was to exploit spaces behind defenders but the hosts were equal to the task. In a nutshell, TAFIC were organised defensively and ensured that every move by their opponents was closely monitored.
The Ostriches, who hardly threatened TAFIC goalkeeper, Thatayaone Thandazela, opened the scoring in 45th minute when Wilfred Muvirimi neatly headed home Mpho Kgaswane’s sublime free kick. It did not take long for TAFIC to equalise as the hosts found the back of the net in the referee’s first half added time in a similar fashion. Defender Vincent Lekorwe rose high to head home Montsi Dichaba’s well taken corner from the right. In the second half Orapa altered their style of play and became more direct. They also resorted to playing more crosses in to the TAFIC box in a bid to accommodate substitute Eric Ookame. TAFIC ch
anged tact from being entirely defensive and attempted to pile more balls behind Koketso Majafi in a bid to utilise the strength of talisman Modise Modipe who came on early in the second period. But the balls lacked precision despite Modipe’s well-timed runs. Only United had a clear cut chance in the second half when Kevin Bingala’s shot was blocked by Thandazela after the former had navigated his way past the defence. A point was eventually enough for the two sides.
The teams TAFIC: Thandazela, Thamani Muzila, Arnold Obuseng, Shanganani Ngada, Nengube Chakalisa, Gape Gaogangwe, Montsi Dichaba (Kudzani Sibanda), Theo Shadikong (Kemoneetse Mmangwedi), Boemo Vincent Lekorwe, Thabiso Bante (Modise Modipe), Nyembo Azande Aime (Keabetswe Tiego)
Orapa: Lesenya Malapela, Wilfred Muvirimi (Anelka Chivandire), Mpho Kgaswane, Kevin Bingala, Tlamelo Kgolagano, Lemogang Maswena (Ookame), Gofaone Mabaya (Tshepo Malgas), Tapiwa Nyamanjiva, Thato Kebue, Koketso Majafi, Thato Seagatang
score: TAFIC 1 (Lekorwe 45th +5) Orapa 1 (Muvirimi 45th)
