22 Oct 2024

Despite his team retrieving four balls from its own net against VTM FC on Sunday during a FNB Premiership encounter, Matebele FC coach, Sean Connor has indicated that their performance was not that bad as they were not totally outplayed, only that they were not too good inside the box like their opponent. 

“We actually controlled the game between the two boxes, but that is just not enough to win a football match. 

We hope to have rectified that challenge when we meet our next opponent, Gaborone United, who are an even tougher opponent,” he said. 

Connor said even though the loss to VTM seemed too much on paper, it would be easier to rectify as all the goals were a result of individual error. 

He said the challenge would be massive if it was a collapse by the whole team. 

“I do not think they opened us up, and every one of their goals resulted from long balls, which we failed to deal with,” he said. 

Connor also decried his team’s deficiency on one-on-one defending and the inability to win first time balls, and concluded that despite the loss, his team actually dominated the second half, but failed to take the chances they created. 

For his part, VTM’s Reuben Njavera said he was happy with his team’s first three points of the season, which he said were even sweeter coming against the back drop of a loss in their first game. 

“We really needed these three points to get us on the right path. The league is in the early stages and we need to focus on our every opponent. 

If we get a win in the next game, we will be on the right path,” he said. He said he was also happy that his team managed to address lack of firepower in front of goals, which he said contributed to their loss in the first game against Jwaneng Galaxy. 

“Against Galaxy, we dominated play, but had poor finishing and they beat us only through experience coupled with better match fitness due to playing in the CAF competitions,” he said. 

Despite winning handsomely, Njavera was reluctant to label the win as a warning to other opponents in the FNB Premiership. 

“Honestly, I do not see it as such. This is just the beginning of the league unless we are at the top of the standings. 

There are still a lot of games to come,” he said. 

Having finished on position six last season, Njavera said their target position is anything better than that. 

Matebele FC started the game on a high note, getting on the score sheet first through an own goal by VTM skipper, Letsweletse Leririma, but the visitors soon cancelled the lead through Wilfred Dithwane three minutes later, which helped them settle in the game. 

Kesaobaka Ramotshwaedi gave VTM FC the lead in the 33rd minute before Onkgolotse Motlhabankwe made it three before the break. 

Dithwane got his brace with 10 minutes of regular time remaining to ensure maximum points for his side. Ends