08 Feb 2022

A 47 minute Thabo Metlhayotlhe goal was enough to earn BDF XI three points against Morupule Wanderers, Wednesday.

Metlhayotlhe, sprawled on turf, reached for the ground ball and redirected it into the far post to beat Wanderers’ goalkeeper Kagiso Moganetsi.

The goal was hatched after coach Letang Kgengwenyane upped BDF XI’s ante with a triple substitute in search of an opener.

Kgengwenyane substituted Moatlhodi Ralesota, Mogotsi Modise and Alphios Kgopa for Serati Samadi, Othusitse Mpharitlhe and Gaamangwe Thabe at halftime.

The army men then launched a tactical search for a goal. They put their feet on the gas and surged forward until Metlhayotlhe established a target and shot.

It would seem Kgengwenyane had tongue-lashed the boys from the barracks, who had a lukewarm first half, during halftime when they came back firing at Bafana Ba Magala, a moniker for Wanderers.

Bafana Ba Magala woes were not helped by a first half injury to their captain Comfort Dikupa who was replaced by Batshani Bee.

It would seem Dikupa’s absence left a gaping wound in the Wanderers’ feet. They limped in his absence, but stand-in captain Agripa Murimba led the Wanderers to maintain a goal deficit.

Though home away from home in Selebi Phikwe, the Palapye outfit under the custodianship of Daniel Nare, started off a commanding side.

Bafana Ba Magala were awarded quite a number of freekicks, a few meters into the BDF box, owing to their constant probing of the army side. However, poor execution stood on their way against smash and grab of army possessions.

None of the attempts troubled Kagiso Matlou at BDF goalposts.

Wanderers’ number 9, the burly Agripa Murimba seemed to enjoy a go at Matebele with his ferocious runs from the left into the BDF XI box. But the army men had their goalposts well-guarded.

Perhaps BDF XI possessed the mental strength and tactical awareness to ward off the Wanderers, but it would seem the latter were not merely wandering around the Sam Sono Stadium pitch. Pressed against the wall they would emerge unscathed many times.

In an endeavor to crack the BDF XI wall, Nare ordered in dynamites in the form of Katlego Ralegoreng and Thabo Wetshoemang.

Although the boys fired, the BDF XI rearguard of Thabiso Khunwane and Kaizer Seforo left Bafana Ba Magala wondering what better explosive to employ against the Kgengwenayane immensely resourced army men.

That as it may, the Kgengwenyane boys marched back to the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks with a sizeable loot of coal from Morupule after just a single gunshot. ENDs