Chiefs 1 (Kufigwa 55th) Matebejana 0

MMOPANE: Mochudi Centre Chiefs are upbeat about title chances following the 1-0 win over Matebejana on Saturday afternoon. The two teams met in a Debswana First Division South (DFDS) league tie played at the Holy Ghost Park. Chiefs are on the fourth position and remain five points behind leaders Matebele with just seven rounds of league games to be played.

Assistant coach, Mopholosi ‘Afcon’ Reaitsanye believes his side is very much into the title race. Reaitsanye is motivated by the remaining fixtures which includes contests against the top three teams in the DFDS log.

“We do not need a favour from any team. We are still to play (CRACKiT) City Polar. We are still to play Notwane, we are still to play VTM FC, we are still to play Young Stars and we are still to play Matebele. So, we have to win them ourselves.

Matebele are just five points away so we are well within the race and we have to do the job ourselves and not from any other team. It is a tough league, every two to three games we are playing title contenders so as much as we had registered three losses, they can also get one or two losses and we will be up there,” Reaitsanye.

Magosi thought they had taken the lead on the 11th minute but the goal was ruled out for offside. The home side sat back for much of the first half and Chiefs struggled to penetrate the Matebejana defence. Both sides had moments in the final third but both goalkeepers remained untested.

Matebejana nearly took the lead with six minutes to the break as Mpaphi Chinyepi’s glancing header sailed just over the bar. The teams brought down a dull first half tied at 0-0.

Two minutes in the second half, Chinyepi controlled a lobbed pass into the box but saw his volley saved by the goalkeeper. Moatlhodi Raselotla tried from an acute angle on 53rd minute but his attempt was well saved by the goalkeeper as Matebejana looked the better of the two teams at the start of the second half.

Two minutes later, goalkeeper Mpho Mantsho gifted Magosi the lead as he failed to handle the ball and from close range, Khumoetsile Kufigwa poked into the net with the assist of the goal post. Katlo Setlhoka tried from outside the box with a low driven shot but it was well saved by the goalkeeper on the 58th minute.

Kufingwa thought he had bagged a brace on the 69th minute but his low driven shot went inches off the goal. On the 80th minute, Setlhoka had a rather desperate attempt from outside the box and it was well saved by the goalkeeper.

Magosi bagged the maximum points on the afternoon to stay in the title race while Matebejana are level on points with relegation threatened Broadhurst United.

The teams: Matebejana:

Mpho Mantsho, Patrick Bonang, Anorld Obuseng, Thuto Balefetse (Molosiwa Molosiwa), Mbaakanyi Makafiri, Kabo Gaboipewe, Theo Shadikong, Moatlhodi Ralesotla, Katlo Setlhoka, Tefo Molefe, Mpaphi Chinyepi (Wandani Aron)

Chiefs: Tumisang Selolwane, Kaelo Ntsimane, Moffat Moilakgaka, Ontiretse Morotsi, Ishmael Matlhaleng , Julius Montsho, Kesekile Chivese (Goitseone Bokutlo), Kgotlaetsile Gopolang (Kakanyo Kethubile), Tebogelo Malebogo (Onkemetse Gasemotho), Thabang Mooketsi, Khumoetsile Kufigwa Cautions: Mantsho, Kethubile, Morotsi