Masitaoka FC

The much anticipated meeting of Masitaoka FC and title holders Gaborone United headlines Botswana Premier League week 9 games. The two sides will meet at Molepolole Sports Complex on Wednesday afternoon, 21st of December 2022.

Coach Mandla Mpofu’s side will be looking for maximum points in this game following their disappointing 1-1 draw in their previous game against Mogoditshane Fighters, whereas high flying Moyagoleele who are led by Benny Kgomela will go into this match with the intention of extending their impressive winning streak this season.

Gaborone United were victorious the last time these two sides met in the league, thanks to Kennedy Amutenya’s towering header that separated them on the day.

Majatlhaga will be boosted by the return of Namibian playmaker Ambrosius Obry Amseb who missed two previous matches due to an ankle injury.

This unpredictable encounter will start at 15:30HRS and it will be broadcasted live on Botswana Television. Live updates will also be provided across Masitaoka’s social media platforms.

Tickets for the match are available online via Webtickets (https://www.webtickets.co.bw/events/featured/botswana-football-league/4274142) and across Spar Shops countrywide at P30.00/each. No tickets will be sold at the stadium.

Masitaoka forward Lethabo Ogotseng came off the bench and scored a brilliant header to help his side secure a 1-1 draw against Mogoditshane Fighters at Molepolole Sports Complex on Saturday.

Fighters broke the deadlock early in the game with Kakanyo Kethubile’s deflected strike beating the goalkeeper Victor James on the 3rd minute. Thereafter, Masitaoka went all out in attack to search for the equalizer.

Majatlhaga enjoyed the majority of ball possession throughout the first half but were unable to break down Fighters defence. The first big chance came on the 20th minute when Christopher Lemme picked out the run of Itumeleng Salani with a defence splitting pass, who was then left with only the keeper to beat but his powerful shot was saved by the goalkeeper Tshomarelo More.

Olebogeng Ramotse also had an opening late in the first half through a free kick from 20 yards but his curling effort was kept out by the goalkeeper.

From the break Masitaoka continued where they left off in the first half; there were chances for Bakang Tsholang and Ivan Kamberipa who both saw their attempts from inside the box going over the bar.

On the 67th minute Coach Mandla Mpofu introduced Lethabo Ogotseng for Salani to add some spark in the attack with two box strikers upfront. The pressure on Fighters backline paid off on the 74th minute when Ogotseng headed in a beautiful cross from Thabang Khuduga to level matters.

Both teams had several scoring chances in the remaining minutes which could have seen the winner. The draw now sees Masitaoka remain on the 6th position of Botswana Premier League Log standings with thirteen points after eight games.

Majatlhaga will now host Log leaders Gaborone United in the last game of the year this coming Wednesday (21/12/2022) at Molepolole Sports Complex.

Line-Up: James (16), Sepatela (7), Gabadise (5), Kamberipa © (15), Khuduga (17), Kotze (8), Ramotse (18) (Gagoitseope 20’), Salani (11) (Ogotseng 14’), Tsholang (19), Ratshukudu (13), Lemme (9)

Subs Not Used: Motswagole (32), Ramotlhwa (23), Molelowamodimo (24), Mangadi (12), Bogale (2), Monaheng (30)

Head Coach: Mandla Mpofu

Following their impressive victory over Township Rollers this past weekend, Majatlhaga will now lock horns against Kweneng District rivals Mogoditshane Fighters in a Botswana Premier League clash billed for Saturday afternoon at Molepolole Sports Complex.

This will be the two team’s third meeting in Botswana Football League (BFL) era, having already faced each other in the 2021/22 season. Fighters won the first round game 1-0 and the second round game clash ended in a 1-1 draw.

Head Coach; Mandla Mpofu indicated that the team is over the Rollers win and ready to fight for another win this weekend, ‘’Rollers game is history and it will never be played again, the most important game now is against Fighters which is a derby. Numbers don’t lie we haven’t beaten them, that alone makes it difficult so we will stick to our game plan and improve from last game performance”.

“In terms of the playing personnel we still don’t have Ambrosius Amseb who nursing an ankle injury even though he started light training this week, we will also not have our Vice-Captain Eric Tjizake who is mourning the death of his father”, he adds.

Masitaoka currently sit on the 6th spot after seven games with twelve points in the bag, while the hosts who collected maximum points in their previous league encounter against Extension Gunners find themselves on position 10 with eight points.

Tickets for the match are available online via Webtickets (https://www.webtickets.co.bw/event.aspx?itemid=4373210) and across Spar Shops countrywide at P30.00/each. The game will kick off at 4pm.

Clinical Majatlhaga claimed their fourth win of the 2022/23 season as they defeated Township Rollers 3-0 in the seventh week of Botswana Premier League games held at Molepolole Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Two goals from Bakang Tsholang and one from speedy winger Tlhago Ratshukudu ensured a dominating win for Masitaoka over Mapalastina; third victory from the four games between the two teams since last year December.

The visitors dominated most parts of the first half, but Majatlhaga broke the deadlock two minutes before the half time break after goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe parried Christopher Lemme’s powerful strike into the path of unmarked Bakang Tsholang, leaving him with an open net to aim from 6 yards.

The next big moment in the game came on the 47^th minute, just two minutes after the second half restart when former Rollers lad Thabang Khuduga unleashed a shot from close range which was saved by Dambe after Rollers defense failed to clear their lines following a corner kick which was well taken by Olebogeng Ramotse. Tsholang pounced and produced a remarkable piece of agility to guide the ball into the net with a header to score his third league goal of the campaign and second of the game.

With two goals down, Rollers attackers kept coming at Majatlhaga solid backline to search for openings but found it difficult to penetrate, and on the 81^st minute against the run of play Masitaoka grabbed their third of the day. Christopher Lemme found Tlhago Ratshukudu inside the box in plenty of space and he converted with ease past a diving Dambe.

Rollers attackers forced some good saves from shot stopper Victor James and the visitors thought they had pulled one back after the Namibian Striker Terry Uiseb rebound goal was ruled out for an offside following his strike that hit the post from the penalty spot.

Masitaoka are now undefeated in all their 2022/23 home games at Molepolole Sports Complex, winning all the four matches as well as keeping four clean sheets at the back.

Line-Up: James (16), Sepatela (7), Gabadise (5), Kamberipa © (15), Khuduga (17), Kotze (8), Ramotse (18), Salani (11) (Bogale 2’), Tsholang (19), Ratshukudu (13) (Monaheng 30’), Lemme (9)

Subs Not Used: Motswagole (32), Tjizake (4), Van-Neel (22), Ramotlhwa (23), Molelowamodimo (24), Gagoitseope (20), Ogotseng (14)

Cautions: 11. I, Salani 37min’

Head Coach: Mandla Mpofu