Mpatane unimpressed with referee’s decisions
Gaborone United (Kgamanyane 7th, Kgaswane 29th, Tlhalefang 47th) Eleven Angels
E0 3
leven Angels head coach, Seemo Mpatane was left disenchanted with the level of match officiating when his side lost 3-0 to Gaborone United (GU) in a Botswana Premier League game played at the National Stadium on Saturday night.
Mpatane bemoaned that some of the referee Bonno Tsebe’s decisions were only against his side including looking at the cautions they received compared to GU as well as the red card given to their player, Ronny Leagetse. “The referee’s decisions today were really questionable.
I think the referees maybe need to be taught in class the players’ emotions because we watch Premier League, we see players being emotional, but they are not sent off,” Mpatane said.
Commenting on the fracas that ensued between Tsebe and Leagetse after the final whistle, Mpatane was not happy with how the player carried himself but understood where he comes from.
“A lot of unprofessionalism is hanging around our football because you cannot insult a player; because when you insult him you are provoking him to insult you back. And now we have to deal with the red card and so many yellow cards going into our next game,” he said.
Meanwhile, GU head coach Pontsho Moloi distanced himself from Mpatane’s assertion that the referee’s decisions were questionable on the night.
“Yeah, well, what can I say about the match officiating rather than to say no comment,” Moloi said. Moloi was, however, impressed with how fluid his team was but was not thrilled with the missed chances and the penalty.
The game started on a high tempo and just seven minutes into it, GU opened the scores with their first clear cut chance. Alford Velaphi put a line breaking cross for Thatayaone Kgamanyane who easily tapped it in the near post to beat goalkeeper, Prince Bojang. Two minutes later, Lekgamu la Banyana came close to levelling matters but were denied by the woodwork from winger, Bakang Mpatane’s shot.
Mpho Kgaswane nearly extended the lead from a kick on the edge of the box but was unfortunate as it went wide by an inch. Goal scorer Kgamanyane was brought down inside the box and referee Tsebe pointed to the spot with no hesitation.
However, Thero Setsile failed to convert from the spot as Bojang denied him superbly. On the 29th minute Kgaswane made up for his early mistake this time around with a stunning free kick from outside the box. Returning from the half time break, Molaodi Tlhalefang, who had wasted most chances in the first half, extended GU’s lead.
Kgaswane picked up Tlhalefang who was unmarked but he missed from his first effort and scored from the rebound. Lebogang Ditsele also came to the party but was denied by the upright. Winger Mpatane troubled Thabo Motswagole with his free kick. GU hit the woodwork again but this around from Mothusi Johnson’s header. The game ended 3-0 with the home side winning all the bragging rights.
A lot of unprofessionalism is hanging around our football because you cannot insult a player; because when you insult him you are provoking him to insult you back. And now we have to deal with the red card and so many yellow cards going into our next game,” he said
The teams GU: Thabo Motswagole, Alford Velaphi, Mothusi Johnson, Karabo Phiri (Thabang Khuduga), Tshepo Maikano, Lebogang Ditsele, Mothusi Cooper (Sheikh Sesay), Mpho Kgaswane, Thero Setsile (Ronel Manyanga), Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Molaodi Tlhalefang (Omphile Ramoagi)
Eleven Angels: Prince Bojang, Marcus Maokaneng, Kefilwe Sekgopi, Thuso Monyama, Fungai Muzila, Ronny Leagetse, Ofentse Mbaiwa (Thebe Mmolawa), Mompati Mbidzo, Bakang Mpatane, Ogotseng Keletso (Kaone Bogosi), Aron Sautu (Tefo Batlang).