Returning ‘Chico’

“To coach a team in the relegation zone is a process. We have been in this situation before but then we had support. Now Gunners is like a neglected entity but the first 30 minutes showed that we can survive. The rest showed that we need to work more,” Nare told Monitor Sport.

Omphile Vissagie should have given Gunners the lead but he was guilty of indecisiveness inside the box and the ball was eventually cleared in the 22nd minute.

Four minutes later, Mothusi Cooper had a go from outside the box but his attempt was parried for a corner. The corner kick led to GU’s opener as Thero Setsile tucked in from close range in the 29th minute. Two minutes later, Cooper played a low cross for Sizwe Twala but the striker shot over the bar. Setsile doubled his side’s lead with a well taken free-kick with two minutes to the break. Four minutes into the second half, Duncan Otieno missed the target with a headed effort. Gunners pulled one back in the 52nd minute with a brilliantly taken header by Boemo Lekorwe. The goal breathed life into Gunners’ play as the team searched for an equaliser. However, it was the Reds who got the next goal as Mpho Kgaswane beat the keeper from the

spot after he was brought down inside the area. Kobamelo Kebaikanye saw his free-kick attempt parried back into play in the 70th minute. Setsile was denied a hat-trick by the keeper as he tried from an acute angle in the 78th minute. In the last minute of regulation time, Omphile Ramoagi found Onkabetse Makgantai with a through ball but the striker shot straight into the keeper’s hand.

The teams Gunners:

Keeagile Kgosipula, Katlego Mothibi, Thato Bolelweng, Mosimanegape Ntwaetsile, Desire Bafana, Benson Masokobanji (Kobamelo Kebaikanye), Boemo Lekorwe (Ofentse Dialwa), Thamiso Gagoanngwe, Omphile Vissagie, Brendon Kenosi (Thapelo Thebeyame), Kgotso Phuti (Anderson Makolontwana)

GU: Goitseone Phoko, Mothusi Johnson, Alford Velaphi, Mothusi Cooper (Omphile Ramoagi), Tshepo Maikano, Duncan Otieno, Gape Thibedi (Ronel Manyanga), Tshepo Malgas (Mpho Kgaswane), Sizwe Twala (Onkabetse Makgantai), Obonwe Maome (Karabo Phiri), Thero Setsile

Cautions: Phoko, Kgaswane