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Botswana: Buffaloes Suffer Body Blow
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
8 April 2008
Posted to the web 10 April 2008
Chippa Legodimo
Gaborone
Mochudi Buffaloes' promotion aspirations took a knock on Sunday when they suffered a 2-0 loss to the determined Young Strikers.
The loss at home saw Buffaloes slip from second to fourth spot while Strikers revived their promotion hopes and moved to position five.
Buffaloes were under pressure from the first whistle doing more defending than attacking and should have been punished early in the game but the visitors' lack of composure inside the box ensured that the two teams went for the break dead-locked at 0-0.
It took some individual brilliance from second half substitute Desmond Mokaila for Strikers to wrap up the game. The lanky forward made his presence felt after he was introduced in the 56th minute. He harassed Buffaloes' defence and got into the thick of things immediately. Just 10 minutes after he came on, he rounded the Buffaloes' defence and gave Strikers the lead.
He continued with his reign of terror as he kept pressing forward running deep to collect balls and using his large frame to neutralise defenders. His hard work paid dividends again in the 75th minute when he connected with a pass from the right for another easy tap in from close range.
Strikers should have scored many goals in the first half when stocky right winger Marvin Kaelo caused havoc to Buffaloes. He used his sublime skills to go round defenders before sending in good crosses into the box but his teammates failed to convert. Kabo Nyathi was the main culprit. Either he arrived too late in the box or fluffed the chances from the good balls he got from Kaelo. Buffaloes had their chances but just like the visitors, they lacked composure and the killer instinct in front of goal. They were lucky to have conceded only two goals.
Former Mochudi Centre Chiefs' man, Don Ramphaleng looked out of sorts and was unable to use his experience to inspire Buffaloes. George Mponki who was expected to help was very unsettled in the match.
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Sensing that a loss was imminent, Buffaloes introduced lanky Midas Maseke late in the second half but it was too late for the former Red Sparks forward to make an impact. However, he was on target on two occasions, first using his height to beat his marker to a high ball to force a save from goalkeeper Kabelo Osupile.
He was back again a few minutes later when he stretched to push a loose ball home but was unlucky as his effort went narrowly past the left post. At the end, Buffaloes' fans went home frustrated but still hopeful that their team would stage a comeback into the campaign in the last few games.
Killer Giants still remain top of the log with 35 points following their victory over Eastern Tigers on Saturday. Naughty Boys collected crucial three points away to Kgabosetso Southern Callies on Saturday to remain second with 33 points. Prisons XI's courageous 4-1 win against Tlokweng United helped them back into position three with 32 points.
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| Copyright © 2008 Mmegi/The Reporter. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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