13 Jun 2022

Eleven Angels coach, Seemo Mpatane, is delighted with his boys’ execution of the game plan to frustrate Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the first leg of the premier league promotional playoff tie.

Mpatane revealed his pleasure after the youthful Francistown based side held Chiefs to a goalless draw at the River Plate stadium on Sunday.

“We knew travelling won’t be an easy thing, so basically our approach to the game was more psychological than physical or tactical, the mental strength was important to us. We knew our opponents were going to come for a kill from the first whistle. We built a structure and we frustrated their plan, however the tie is still open going for the second round and we shall continue with our normal game,” he added. His counterpart from the Magosi technical bench, David Tlhowe, said his boys would remain positive going into the second and final round this coming weekend.

“Nothing can kill a positive mind. We showed character and you could see the boys wanted to win at all costs. We are still struggling with our attacking which remains a problem orientated area. We miss easy chances and end up paying a heavy price. We drew today and as we are travelling to Francistown we remain positive,” he said.

Angels sustained the early pressure to the first half that failed to live up to its billing. 

The visitors showed character with neat passing but their opponents looked hungrier of the two with a number of desperate attempts on goal.

With about half an hour gone, it was still a cagey affair and the only chance from the homeside was an ambitious strike from Malvin Moyo whose looping strike from outside the 18th yard area was mishandled by Keletso Lekuni in Angels’ goal posts and tipped outside for a corner.

Five minutes from the break, Chiefs’ captain Arnold Mampori’s nicely curved free kick from the left forced a superb save from Lekuni. Lekuni produced another sublime save to tip off a pin point cross over the upright for a corner. 

Angels remained on the back foot in the last minute of the second half and the homeside also had promising chances deep in the half. 

Tlhowe rang a couple of changes as the clock ticked in an effort to score a goal in his own backyard but the score remained goalless at the end of regulation time. ends