03 Apr 2022

Motaung Young Fighters and Mochudi Rovers played to a goalless draw in a Debswana First Division South league encounter in Kang on Saturday. The 10th placed Rovers failed to create a moment that would separate them against bottom of the log Motaung.

The hosts dominated the first half as they created several scoring chances, which nonetheless they failed to convert.

Rovers’ Thabang Mogotsi made his team’s first attack in the 20th minute.

He penetrated Motaung defense, but was marked offside before he could score.

Mogotsi kept his cool and continued to mount pressure on his opponents, but ladyluck was not on their side.

While Motaung continued with their dominance, their scoring ability left a lot to be desired.

In the second half, Rovers were the first to make five substitutions with the attempt to spark their side into life.

Motaung striker, Malebogo Ditiro, failed to score in the 51st minute, while one on one with Rovers goal minder, Obakeng Pone.

In the 67th minute Motaung’s Dennis Odirile also missed a goal after he took a beautiful header that unfortunately went wild.

Meanwhile, Rovers’ Botshelo Modise’s goal in the 73th minute was ruled offside, a decision that Rovers supporters did not take well. Despite multiple substitutions, both teams  failed to score.

Despite the draw, Motaung are still stuck at the bottom of the log with four points while their opponents moved to 15 points, but still not out of the woods.

Speaking in an interview, Rovers coach, Carlos Chaba, lamented his charges’ poor performance, which he partly blamed on the unfriendly pitch.

He pleaded with the football governing bodies to take such into consideration in their quest to improve football.

The draw, he said, was not what they wanted, but promised  to intensify their efforts to escape the dreaded relegation axe.

For his part, Motaung coach, Goitsemodimo Morulane expressed disappointment with their performance.

He said they missed golden chances that could have given them a breather.

“We had about three clear cut chances that were not decisively buried,” he decried.

He, however, remained adamant that with doubled efforts, they would leapfrog other teams to escape the relegation.

Meanwhile, in other games, Matebele Vs Taung and Mochudi Centre Chiefs Vs Matebejana all played to goalless draws while Holy Ghost beat Union Flamingo Santos 2-0 and Black forest beat Tlokweng United 2-1. BOPA