Masitaoka FC

After a disappointing weekend in Molepolole, Masitaoka FC bounced back to winning ways away from home by claiming a 3-1 victory against Morupule Wanderers in their 13^th game of the 2022/23 Botswana Premier League campaign at Serowe Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Namibian playmaker Ambrosius Amseb returned to the starting line-up following his full recovery from an ankle injury that kept him out since the 4^th of December 2022. Furthermore, striker Lethabo Ogotseng and Zimbabwean winger Simbarashe Manyoni were handed their first starts of the season by Head Coach Mandla Mpofu.

It was the hosts who started very strong and dominating possession in the early stages of the game which resulted to them getting first shot at goal by Agrippa Murimba which was comfortably saved by Victor James. Morupule pressure finally paid off on the 10^th minute with Murimba again striking from the edge of the 18 yard box beating James on the near post to make it 1-nil.

Morupule’s goal seemed to be a wake-up call for Mandla Mpofu boys who then began to play with more aggression and determination to get back on the game quickly. The wait for the equalizer lasted for only 7 minutes and came on the 17^th minute; Ogotseng pounced on defensive miscommunication by Wanderers backline to level matters with a chip over the goalkeeper.

Majatlhaga kept the tempo high and continued to look for more spaces to score the second. On the 34th minute Ogotseng pressurized Morupule keeper Badisa Mpote forcing him to make a mistake and unmarked Brian Vuyo Mankanku picked up the loose ball to direct it into an open net; getting on the score sheet for the first time in Majatlhaga colours.

Few minutes before the break Tapiwa Sepatela attacked the box with pace after combining with Manyoni on the right flank and played the ball across the face of goal but sliding Amseb and Ogotseng couldn’t make enough contact to score the third goal. The two sides went into half time Masitaoka leading Wanderers 2-1.

From the break, Majatlhaga continued to push forward with the intent of getting more goals and on the 49th minute overlapping Sepatela scored the third assisted by Obusitswe Gabadise after a well-executed play from the back.

Masitaoka then played the game more ease and less pressure for most parts of the second half but failed to add more goals. Morupule made tactical changes to try and find ways to get back into the game but Victor James and his solid defence denied them all the spaces.

The game ended with a 3-1 score line in favour of Majatlhaga and they remain on 6^th position with 22 points. The blues are next in action against Prisons XI at Molepolole Sports Complex on Sunday, 5^th February 2023.

Line-Up: James (16), Sepatela (7), Gabadise (5), Kamberipa © (15), Khuduga (17), Ramotlhwa (23), Ramotse (18), Amseb (10), Manyoni (33), Mankanku (21) (Phuthego 27’), Ogotseng (14)

Subs Not Used: Motswagole (32), Tjizake (4), Thuto (28), Molelowamodimo (24), Bogale (2), Ratshukudu_L (29), Monaheng (30), Mloyi (6)

Head Coach: Mandla Mpofu

Masitaoka FC is delighted to announce the signing of a Central Defender Ofentse Lawrence Radikgageng, penning a two-year deal with the club.

The 23 year old joins Majatlhaga from Extension Gunners. Everyone at the club welcomes Ofentse to Masitaoka family.

Masitaoka FC is pleased to announce the signing of a Left Winger Moabi Phuthego on a two-and-a-half year deal.

The 23 year old attacker who also played for Taung Young Strikers joins the club from Extension Gunners.

Masitaoka FC 2023 unbeaten run in Premier League came to an end on Sunday at Molepolole Sports Complex as they were beaten 4-1 by Jwaneng Galaxy.

Head Coach Mandla made four changes from the previous outing against Nico United. Tapiwa Sepatela, Itumeleng Salani, Gabriel Van-Neel returned to the starting XI and newly signed striker Jacob Nduna Mloyi made his club debut leading the attack upfront.

The game started on high tempo and with just seven minutes gone on the clock, Galaxy broke the deadlock after Kitso Mangolo floated a beautiful cross to the back post and the Zimbabwean speedy winger Daniel Msendani lobbed Victor James in goal to give Galaxy the lead.

Six minutes later Majatlhaga found the equalizer through Thabang Khuduga who unleashed a superb strike from distance to beat Galaxy goalkeeper Karabo Gaolebale. Galaxy then restored their lead quickly after re-start with Gilbert Baruti; finishing off from Msendani low cross. The visitors controlled most parts of the first half stopping Masitaoka from playing out and maintained their attacking threat.

It was 2-1 at half time, though just before the break Salani’s powerful strike inside the box was blocked for a corner kick.

Majatlhaga made a better start to the second half, substitute Lethabo Ogotseng went close to find the equalizer but his attempt hit the crossbar after meeting Khuduga’s low drive cross into the box. Last season’s top goal scorer Thabang Sesinyi increased Galaxy’s lead on the 66th minute heading in past James from the corner kick.

The home side controlled much of the possession in the closing stages with Ogotseng, Ambrosius Amseb and Losika Ratshukudu posing threat to Galaxy backline but could not find the break through.

Clinical Galaxy rounded off the scoring inside referee’s additional time through substitute Wendell Rudath who powered in a right footed strike beyond Victor James into the bottom corner. A frustrating result of a spirited and competitive second half performance from Mandla Mpofu’s side.

Majatlhaga will now look ahead for their next league game against Morupule Wanderers on the 28th of January 2023 at Serowe Sports Complex, with kick off for that game at 1600HRS.

Line-Up: James (16), Sepatela (7), Gabadise (5), Kamberipa © (15), Khuduga (17), Kotze (8), Ramotse (18), Salani (11) (Amseb 10’), Van-Neel (22) (Ratshukudu_L 29’), Mankanku (21) (Thuto 28’), Mloyi (6) (Ogotseng 14’)

Subs Not Used: Motswagole (32), Tjizake (4), Ramotlhwa (23), Bogale (2), Manyoni (33)

Cautions: 18. 0, Ramotse 11min’

Head Coach: Mandla Mpofu

Masitaoka FC continue their Botswana Premier League 2022/23 campaign on Sunday with title contenders Jwaneng Galaxy at Molepolole Sports Complex.

Head Coach Mandla Mpofu insists that his boys are ready to approach Galaxy with the same energy and momentum that has seen them winning the first two games of the year against Extension Gunners and Nico United.

‘’Our preparations have gone well so far and we have to go there and play the similar way we have been playing, at the same time aiming to improve our previous performance.

I think it’s going to be an interesting match on Sunday because we are playing a team that has a clear objective which is to win the championship at the end of the season. However they will have to dig dip to get three points from us because we are also going to fight and compete for the maximum points as well”.

Asked if our newly signed Zimbabwean striker Jacob Nduna Mloyi might be involved, Mpofu said: ‘’Jacob might make his debut, a good physical striker and with a powerful left foot who at any given time he may give us goals upfront and another dimension in terms of how we want to play’’.

Galaxy who are currently unbeaten completed a double over Majatlhaga last season winning the first game 3-1 at National Stadium and the second round encounter 2-0 at Galaxy Stadium in Jwaneng.

The game kicks off at 15:30HRS and will be broadcasted live on Botswana Television (BTV). Live updates will also be provided across Masitaoka’s social media platforms.

Tickets for the match are available online via Webtickets, Spar Shops countrywide and at Route 3 Pub & Grill in Molepolole at P30.00/each. No tickets will be sold at the stadium.

Masitaoka FC can confirm that it has reached an agreement with Prisons XI for the services of our three Attacking Midfielders; Tumelo Meshack, Loago Mangadi and Gofiwa Matokote on six months loan deals for the remainder of the 2022/23 season.

The agreement is standard and the trio will return to Majatlhaga camp when the 2023 Pre-season starts in July.

We wish them all the best of luck.

Masitaoka FC is delighted to announce the signing of a Goalkeeper Thabo Masule, penning a two-year deal with the club.

The 23 year old joins us from Extension Gunners. In 2021/22 season he was playing for MR Highlanders.

Masitaoka FC is delighted to announce the signing of Zimbabwean Striker Jacob Nduna Mloyi on a three-year deal.

The 22 year old joins Majatlhaga from Bulawayo City in Zimbabwe.

Mandla Mpofu, Masitaoka FC Head Coach, said: “Jacob gives us another striking dimension. He fits well with the vision of the club which is using young players”.

Let us welcome him to the team.

Masitaoka FC fought back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 victory over Nico United at Molepolole Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon, thanks to goals from substitutes Itumeleng Salani and Lethabo Ogotseng.

Majatlhaga bossed the early stages of the game but were not clinical in front of goals. Majombolo responded by applying pressure on Majatlhaga defence as they saw what could have been the first goal of the match being ruled out by the referee after the goal scorer handled the ball before it went in. They kept on pushing and six minutes before the half time break they got the lead through an own goal from Masitaoka skipper Ivan Kamberipa. Nico went into the tunnel leading 1-nil.

Head Coach Mandla Mpofu made changes before the second half started replacing Moloi Thuto and Gorata Bogale with Tapiwa Sepatela and Itumeleng Salani. The adjustments didn’t take long to work as Majatlhaga got the equalizer on the 48th minute when Salani headed home Olebogeng Ramotse’s cross from the corner kick.

The Blues of Kweneng continued to keep Nico United goalkeeper Gaolatlhe Tshupegetso busy with numerous attempts on targets, and could have taken the lead when Christopher Lemme was left with the keeper to beat inside the 18 yard area but Tshupegetso made a crucial save to keep out the striker’s effort. The technical team then made changes in a bid to improve the attacking intensity going forward with the introduction of Simbarashe Manyoni, Lethabo Ogotseng and Losika Ratshukudu.

Majatlhaga sealed the victory late in referee’s additional time when Ogotseng showed an incredible leap as he jumped over the goalkeeper and headed into the net after Kamberipa floated a lovely cross in the box.

Speaking after the match coach Mpofu his post-match thoughts;

“At times you need luck in football and we were lucky to get the winner today. I feel our opponents played much better than us but we showed a lot of big character to turn things around in the second especially after the introduction of Salani and Sepatela. Overall I’m happy with the 3 points but not the way we played”.

Masitaoka’s next assignment is against second placed Jwaneng Galaxy in Molepolole on Sunday, 22 January 2023 kicking off at 1530HRS.

Line-Up: James (16), Thuto (28) (Sepatela 7’), Gabadise (5), Kamberipa © (15), Khuduga (17), Kotze (8), Ramotse (18), Bogale (2) (Salani 11’), Tsholang (19) (Ratshukudu_L 29’), Mankanku (21) (Manyoni 33’), Lemme (9) (Ogotseng 14’)
Subs Not Used: Motswagole (32), Tjizake (4), Gagoitseope (20), Ramotlhwa (23)
Head Coach: Mandla Mpofu