The striker netted a brace as GU consolidated their lead at the top of the Botswana Premier League standings. The off-season signing has seen playing minutes hard to come by while he saw a barren in front of goals. It took only eight minutes into the weekend’s tie for Makwata to get his first goal. Karabo Phiri made a solo drive into the box and left it for Makwata who beat the keeper at the near post. Two minutes later, Makwata received a through ball from Kennedy Amutenya but the striker was denied a brace inside 10 minutes. At the other end, Goitseone Phoko was called into action in the 16th minute to save Kelello Kgosimore’s free kick.
GU came close once again in the 25th minutes as Makwata shot over the bar from just in front of the box. The striker had earlier seen his second goal scrapped for offside. The Reds took a 1-0 lead to the break. The home side picked where they left off as five minutes into the second half, substitute Gape Thibedi squared the ball for Thero Setsile. The latter miskicked his effort as the chance went bagging. In the 57th minute, Thatayaone Kgamanyane was superbly denied by goalkeeper, Tshepo Mooketsi from inside the box. Makwata got his brace on the hour as he headed in Alphord Velaphi cross. The Reds went in search for more but were let down by some poor decision making in the final third. In the 80th minute substitute, Ronel Manyanga saw his shot blocked by the defence with the keeper miles off his line.
Three minutes later, the attacker was at the end of a smart free kick routine and slotted past the keeper to make it 3-0 with his first goal of the season. Five minutes before time, Obonwe Maome had his free kick parried over the bar by the keeper. GU’s assistant coach, Pontsho Moloi was impressed with the team’s ‘unusual goal scorers’ as his side maintain the top spot. “One can only be happy. We have a number of guys who are able to pitch up with goals when your usual guys don’t score, so that’s a good thing. When you can get goals from several people you can only be happy and work on perfecting it,” he said.
The Teams GU: Goitseone Phoko, Alphord Velaphi, Tshepo Maikano, Kennedy Amutenya, Mothusi Johnson, Lebogang Ditsele (Sizwe Twala), Karabo Phiri, Tshepo Malgas (Gape Thibedi), Thero Setsile (Obonwe Maome), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Omphile Phale), John Mark Makwata (Ronel Manyanga) Prisons XI: Tshepo Mooketsi, Tshwanelo Mojanaga (Gofiwa Matokote), Kebatshabile Monthe, Kutlo Mogobe, Kelello Kgosimore (Tumelo Meshack), Mmoloki Chabanda, Taelo Nthomiwa, Tumo Lebanna (Oteng Kenaope) Caution: Malgas
*GU 3 (Makwata 8th, 60th, Manyanga 83rd) Prisons 0
