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Botswana: Killer Giants Move Close to Premier League
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
15 April 2008
Posted to the web 15 April 2008
Chippa Legodimo
Killer Giants captain Donald 'Coach' Mopako has one burning ambition that he must fulfill before he hangs his boot.
Ever since he joined the First Division side from Mochudi Centre Chiefs a few years ago, his desire has been to help the Ramotswa minnows to qualify for the Premier League. He vowed that he would not quit before he achieves his ambition. For some reason, everybody at the club seems to believe that success rests on Mopako's shoulders.
He was inspirational once again on Sunday when it looked almost certain that the Ramotswa side will settle for a draw against visiting Gantsi Terrors in a crucial First Division South match played at Siga ground.
After a very poor start and a goalless first half, Mopako led his troops to a 3-0 victory in the last 26 minutes of the game. The win gave Killer Giants a two-point lead against second-placed promotion rivals, Naughty Boys. Gantsi Terrors started the second half well, pushing their opponents back. Boitshepo Baoke, Kakanyo Motlhabanare and Kediretse Lekaletso displayed marvellous skills but could not get the goals for the Gantsi side.
Killer Giants looked desperate until Obakeng Phuduhutswana was introduced midway through the second half. His sublime skills proved too much for the visitors and sparked Mopako and Tebogo Letsomane to action. His introduction was timely. Before he went in, Terrence Maoto was the only Killer Giants' player who looked dangerous. Maoto's high work rate and good tactical awareness put Gantsi Terrors under pressure and when Phuduhutshwana arrived and got Mopako going, things were bound to happen. The three combined in the 70th minute to get the first goal of the match with the inspirational Mopako having the last word, beating Samuel Ramoswaane in Gantsi Terrors' goal hands down.
Killer Giants made another change after going 1-0 up by introducing Tekanyo Kgotlhane who has seen very little action lately. He did not waste time after coming on. He dribbled past two defenders before slotting home to make it 2-0 and bring the Premier League dream closer to reality with only two games remaining. Phuduhutswana and Kgotlhane proved once again in the 86th minute that their introduction was a wise move when they combined to cause havoc in the Gantsi Terrors' defence. The pressure resulted in a spot-kick that was powerfully blasted home by Maoto to cap a superb performance.
It is not over yet and Killer Giants still have to overcome Masitaoka next weekend and hope that second-placed Naughty Boys lose their game. Both Prisons XI and Mochudi Buffaloes are not yet out of the race but after their 1-1 draw over the weekend, their chances of automatic promotion are getting slimmer.
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Before coming to Ramotswa, Gantsi Terrors had lost 2-0 to fellow strugglers Eastern Tigers in Mochudi on Saturday and needed to get maximum points on Sunday to move off the relegation zone. However, they still have a chance to swim to safety in their last two games.
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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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