The visitors completed the first round at the top of the log standings. Speaking to journalists after the game, City Polar's assistant coach, Thabo Mothibi said the team is not entertaining promotion talks but rather look to secure their spot in the league in their maiden campaign. “We are feeling some bit of pressure, we cannot deny that. We are a new team so our objective is to maintain our status in the league. We are not putting ourselves under pressure and think about promotion. We just told the boys to collect the points as much as we can and see where we would finish. If we win the league, that would be a bonus,” Mothibi said.
It was a very high tempo game from the first whistle and the visitors were the first to test the goalkeeper with Chabaesele Mosiiwa's shot saved on the ninth minute. Two minutes later, City Polar took the lead as Emmanuel Thabe tucked in from just inside the box. They could have been two up on the 19th minute but Thabo Phatsima directed his rebound shot wide after the goalkeeper spilled the initial shot. Three minutes later, Thabe came agonisingly close with his shot from inside the box as it went inches wide off the goal. VTM levelled the matters against the run of play as Sfiso Myeni curled his effort in to the bottom corner in the 35th minute. The two teams went to the halftime break level on scores. Six minutes into the second half, Thabe shot widely off the goal. Two minutes later City Polar were awarded a penalty after the referee ruled for a hand ball inside the box. Goalkeeper, Lame Tladinyane stepped up but could not outsmart his opposition goalkeeper. On the other end, Myeni put a telling cross for Enerst Tawazadza but the substitute headed wide before the hour mark. Katlo Kgathi saw his header cleared off the line from a corner kick on the 70th minute with both sides searching for a winner.
Seven minutes to time the visitors were reduced to a man down as Boikobo Kebafile was given his second yellow card for a tackle. The team, however, held on to secure a point away from home and stay at the top of the log at the beginning of the second round. “It was a game that had all the ingredients of a category A game. City Polar are good fighters. We were bit cagey in the dealing with the long balls. They were pressing us hard and we were skeptical we did not know what to do. But the moment we got the rhythm, we were a lot better. I thought we played much better on the last quarter and yes we deserved a point,” VTM’s head coach, Nelson Olebile said.
VTM 1 (Myeni 35th) CRACKiT 1 (Thabe 11th)
The Teams:
VTM: Matshwenyego Koobonye, Bakani Madaiza, Keabetswe Lucas, Kennedy Taukobong, Katlo Kgati, Musa Tamokate, Sfiso Myeni (Bonginkosi Gumede), Thato Mogorosi, Kesaobaka Ramotshwaedi, Lucky Mokoena (Bogosi Mfila), Senatla Molefe (Enerst Tawadza)
City Polar: Lams Tladinyane, Mpho Ramogonono, Kabelo Thari, Lame Mogwera, Karabo Radikolana, Osenotse Fologang, Chabaesele Mosiiwa, Thabo Phatsima (Boiki Kotase), Emmanuel Thabe, Boikobo Kebafile, Onalethata Khuta (Katlego Bogatsu)
Cautions: Kebafile Dismissal: Kebafile
