Gale Ngakane
19 February 2008
Francistown — Mochudi Centre Chiefs maintained their lead at the top of the Mascom Premier League when they hammered ECCO City Greens 3-0 in a game played at the Francistown Stadium over the weekend. Chiefs made the hosts look like schoolboys at Phatsimo Primary School.
They swaggered into the city like arrogant marauders after a bounty and then left a tale of destruction that had their flustered opponents shaking their heads bemusedly. Firstly, it was their boisterous supporters who buzzed into the stadium like swarms of bees- literally buzzing. At the only stand that gives the ground a semblance of a stadium, ECCO supporters were the first to arrive and occupied the inner recesses of the stand.
Then, Magosi supporters walked in and in the process blocked the view and ECCO supporters who saw red. They (ECCO supporters) started throwing missiles at their adversaries in front and Chiefs' supporters retaliated. For a brief moment, a scuffle ensued and as it threatened to be an all out war, Chiefs' supremo Ernest Molome, who was in the middle of his supporters, boldly stepped forward with outstretched arms pleading for peace with ECCO supporters. Among the people in the front row was Donald Botshelo, of "Banyana ba Serowe" fame.
They (ECCO supporters) promptly obliged and then, Molome went for the Botswana Football Association (BFA) officials who were officiating at the game. He berated one official for sitting with folded arms when supporters of the two teams wanted to cause bloodshed. "How can you just sit here and do nothing? Are you going to be happy if you see a person dying? You are just a useless somebody," the highly charged Molome berated the official who could only mutter incoherent excuses.
Molome and his public relations officer, Clifford Mogomotsi ended up watching the game through the fence after being banished from the sidelines by the BFA officials for another incident with a Francistown City Council employee at the change-rooms.
When play began, it looked as if Barry Daka's team had a plan because from the first whistle, they stormed Chiefs' defences with hair-raising raids. And barely five minutes into the game, Robert Tamba sold a dummy to Chiefs' defence and unleashed a shot that had Noah Maposa in goal rooted between the posts.
However, referee Joshua Bondo, who was also suspect in his handling of the game, ruled it was an offside. In no time, ECCO was back in the attack and Chiefs on the back foot. It was Tamba again who received a pass from left wing and wasted no time in releasing a shot that however side-netted.
If ECCO thought Chiefs were just going to sit back and watch them do as they please, they were fatally mistaken. Chiefs simply snapped out of their reverie. They started weaving a tapestry that bamboozled the ECCO defence but with the goalie at his mercy, Pontsho "Piro" Moloi shot over the bar. Had it not been for Noah Maposa's experience, Tamba could have scored, but that was not to be. And then, Maposa did the unthinkable. After grabbing the ball, the referee blew for the game to resume, but instead of kicking the ball, he threw it at an ECCO player. Bondo, justifiably, this time round, gave Maposa the red card.
Chiefs introduced his brother, Joseph in the goal posts. But he appeared to have been on holiday as Chiefs made sure he was unperturbed for the better part of the game. All their three goals came in the second half. The first one was scored by Motlhabankwe when he rose head and shoulders to convert Moloi's corner. Chiefs got their second goal through Jerome Ramatlhakwana aftter Motlhabankwe was brought down inside the box.During injury time, Mpho "Jomo" Mabogo received a pass from Moloi and drilled a shot past ECCO City Greens' goalie for the third goal.
Tonight's fixture
Township Rollers vs Flamengo Santos @ the National Stadium.
Kick off is at 7pm.
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