Nico coach bemoans poor pre-season
BDF XI 1 (Tshobo 71st)
Nico United (Dikupa 14th)
1
FRANCISTOWN: Nico United coach, Patrick Molefe has partly attributed the team’s bad run to a poor pre-season. Molefe was addressing the media after Nico played to a 1-1 draw against the hosts BDF XI at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on Saturday. It was a game in which Nico could have scored at least three goals but they were not sharp upfront especially in the first stanza. The visitors seemed to have totally boiled out of steam in the second half. They also looked disjointed and eventually allowed BDF XI to find the decisive equaliser. It was Molefe’s first match following the sacking of Wame ‘Pepezino’ Mokoke.
“I doubt that the physical strength of these boys is at a good level. It is difficult to immediately impose your philosophy when you were not part of the pre-season. I, however, think that we did well considering that it was my first game. We had many chances in the first half. We will improve with time. We played a good side,” he said.
Nico has been ravaged by injuries to several key players among them Morgan Gaseitsiwe, who is on loan from Township Rollers.
“About 10 players are injured. To some extent, this shows that they did not have a very good pre-season,” Molefe added.
Until the BDF match, United had collected three points from six matches. They are still in the automatic relegation zone. The former Mochudi Centre Chiefs coach maintains that he has the necessary attributes to lead Majombolo to safety.
“There are four or five games we have to play before the Christmas break. My aim is to collect 10 points. Most of the players we have are technically good. What we need to work on is their tactical awareness. If they can improve the tactical consciousness and confidence, we will start getting the results,” said Molefe who also emphasised the need to beef up front in the January transfer window.
Nico found their goal in the 14th minute through Comfort Dikupa, who scored with a well taken thunderbolt from distance. That was after he was given acres of space to shoot. Striker Thatayaone Magazi would have twice increased Nico’s the lead late in the first half, but on both occasions he failed to capitalise on the side’s impressive counter attack. He initially sent his shot wide with BDF goalkeeper, Kagiso Matlou the only man to beat. On the second occasion he delayed taking a shot eventually allowing veteran defender Thabiso Khunwane to close down. Although they did not create many scoring chances, Matebele were entirely dominant in the second half. They did find the decisive equaliser in the 71st minute when substitute Aobakwe Tshobo converted with a tap in after he was left unchecked on the blind spot.
The teams
NICO: Gaolathe Tshupegetso, Botshelo Motshela, Gothusang Osego, Bapaletswe Simon, Seabe Ototeng, Kudwakwashe Tsvamuno, Kabelo Babusi (Kamogelo Basimanebotlhe), Comfort Dikupa, Kelvin Ndebele (Fidel Ntshekisang), Thatayaone Magazi (Motshwari Goitseone), Joseph Pyele
BDF XI: Kagiso Matlou, Pelontle Lerole, Ronald Setshego, Thabiso Khunwane, Onkabetse Seforo, Godiraone Madingwane, Tefo Malete, Tumisang Pule, Mbonisi Ncube, Mompoloki Moatshe (Agrippa Murimba), Oratile Taunyane (Aobakwe Tshobo)