Chiefs, City Polar rue missed chance
Chiefs 1 (Malebogo 77th) City Polar (Phatsima 15th)
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MOCHUDI: Debswana First Division South league title contenders, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and CRACKiT City Polar saw their race for promotion to the Premier League suffer a dent on Saturday when they played to a 1-1 draw at the Riverplate grounds. Chiefs are now fifth on the log standings and seven points behind leaders Matebele while City Polar are third and five points away from the top with just six round of games to be played.
Chiefs’ assistant coach, Mopholosi Reaitsanye admitted that his side will have to dig deep for a chance in the promotional places. He said the playoff spot is now a target for Magosi.
“We’re still optimistic and look, the second position is still up for grabs. If we can get to the second position then we can think about the first position.
Anything can happen. We are not going down without a fight. We are going to get results in the remaining games and see where that takes us,” he said. His counterpart, Thabo Mothibi is optimistic about title chances and said his side is well in the race.
“I think we are still in a good range as anything can happen. We will keep chasing until the very end. The draw has not done us any favours. We needed to open a wider gap from Magosi and now the teams are piling up in contention of the league and it is very dangerous,” Mothibi said.
Nine minutes into the tie,
Magosi an- nounced their intentions but Kesekile Chivese directed his shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. City Polar took the lead just moments later as Thabo Phatsima poked in from close range on the quarter hour mark.
Chivese, on the other end, could have benefited from a mis-kicked clearance but shot wide on the 25th minute. The attacker squandered yet another chance as he danced through the opposition with a beautiful solo run but was let down by his finishing on the 33rd minute. City Polar held a 1-0 lead at half time.
Magosi nearly levelled the matters just moments into the second half but the opposition defense was quick to clear for a corner. Chiefs continued to waste opportunities in front of an anxious home crowd. Substitute, Tebogelo Malebogo combined with Goitseone Bokhutlo inside the box but the latter shot wide. Magosi got their equaliser with six minutes remaining on the clock as Nonofo Ditutu laid a pass to Tebogelo Malebogo and the forward tucked home from inside the box. The teams shared the spoils.
We’re still optimistic and look, the second position is still up for grabs. If we can get to the second position then we can think about the
first position
The teams: Chiefs: Tumisang Selolwane, Maatla Magosha, Tuelo Mpedi, Kaelo Ntsimane, Ishmael Metlhaleng, Julius Montsho, Kesekile Chivese (Tebogelo Malebogo), Kgotlaetsile Gopolang (Goitseone Bokhutlo), Thabang Mooketsi, Kakanyo Kethubile (Nonofo Ditutu), Khumoetsile Kufingwa
City Polar: Tshomarelo More, Karabo Radikolana (Arthur Cotzee), Gofaone Molapi, Mpho Ramogonono, Kabelo Thari, Lame Mogwera ( Jackie Tapologo), Emmanuel Thabe (Abubaka Mutawali), Thabo Phatsima, Onalethata Khutla, Boikobo Kebafedile
Cautions: Mogwera, Molapi