CHICO GETS MORUPULE DANCING ...as Angels fall flat on big day
ALTHOUGH the rain that threatened never materialised, Eleven Angels put in an uncharacteristically damp performance on a grey Saturday in Ghetto to mark their Premier League debut with a meek 1-0 defeat to Morupule Wanderers.
In stark contrast to the electric, thrilling football that saw them light up the First Division last season, Seemo Mpatane’s men seemed strangely subdued, devoid of ideas and lacking the creative spark to break down a Morupule side reduced to ten men for the last halfan-hour.
While he put on a brave face at the end, rightly pointing out it was far too soon to panic, Mpatane will be desperately disappointed by his team’s flat display.
Going into the game, excitement in the second city was high as top flight football returned to Francistown after a two-year absence.
A late change of venue from the old stadium to the spacious 27,000 Obed Itani Chilume Stadium came as a blow to Angels, effectively nullifying their supporter base, who are well known for their noise. The heavy pitch’s thick grass also made it difficult for Lekgamu La Bananyana to play with the free-flowing fluency they have become synonymous with.
After an even, low-key start to the encounter, with both team’s struggling for control, the game exploded into life in the 15th minute, Morupule striking the decisive blow.
The goal was down to a moment of brilliance from the mining side’s burly striker, Aggripa Murimba. Muscling his way through the Angels defence, Murimba capped off his solo run with a composed finish, calmly slipping the ball past goalkeeper, Tambani Bachopi, from close range.
Ten minutes later and he nearly doubled his tally, exchanging quick passes with Earnest Ngwaga on the left, before drilling a low shot against the post.
Although they never came close to scoring again, neither did they look like conceding.
Indeed, despite going down to ten men on the hour mark, Ngwaga given a second yellow for a clumsy sliding tackle, Chico ‘Dance’ Nare’s side saw out the rest of the game with little fuss.
SEASON
Compact and organised, with shrewd new signing, Maano Ditshupo, at the defensive heart of the midfield, Nare’s team will be hard to beat this season. Three months shy of his 38th birthday, Ditshupo still looks to have plenty left in the tank.
Handed the captain’s armband, the natural-born leader, who has already cemented his
status as a legend of the local game after ten trophy-laden years at Township Rollers, could be the player to take Morupule to new heights this season.
Certainly, Nare will be confident of improving on last term’s tenth-placed finish. Now in his third campaign in the Bafa Ba Magala hot seat, the wily coach is eying a place in the top eight, confidently telling journalists after the game that this was his mini
mum expectation.
Next up for Morupule is a home meeting with Prisons XI, a fixture Nare and co. will have earmarked as ‘a mustwin’ as they look to build on their opening day success.
For Angels, who came closest through Desmond Mtokufa, the winger twice failing to make proper contact with the ball when picked out in the box, they need to find a way to get front man, Monty Enosa, more involved.
Still just 18, the skillful striker showed moments of real quality, holding the ball up well and keeping Morupule’s well drilled defence on their toes. However, the talented teen was reduced to spectator for much of the 90 minutes, his teammates struggling to get the ball up to him.
It is something Mpatane will have to address going forward, starting with Saturday’s trip to Extension Gunners, where Angels come up against a Lobatse giant looking to bounce back from an opening day defeat to Police XI.
This is not the start Angels were dreaming off. However, with 29 games still to go, there is still much to play for!