Moorosi Tsiane
BANTU had to sweat for victory edging Linare 0-1 in an Econet Premier League at Maputsoe DIFA Ground yesterday.
Yesterday’s scrappy win saw Bantu cement their place at the top of the 14-team league table moving from 12 to 15 points with a 100 percent record this season.
Matlama are second with 10 points and will play LMPS at LCS Ground this afternoon.
Tse Tala, as Linare are affectionately known, started with a tempo pushing for an early goal but the visitors’ backline kept its shape and easily dealt with the pressure.
It was Bantu who made first attempt on goal through a Hlompho Kalake set piece 12 minutes into the game from just outside the box. The strike however, found the crossbar.
It took Linare 18 minutes to register their first shot at goal but Bantu goalkeeper Thabo Sedisa dealt with the threat.
Three minutes later Sedisa was again called to action saving Tokeng Sidinko’s header from inside the six-yard box for a corner.
Linare continued to dictate the pace in the midfield with Bantu’s Tšoanelo Koetle and Hlompho Kalake failing to deal with Letuka Mosehlenyane and Siyabonga Mkhize’s movements.
A Matso Matebele could have gone ahead in the dying minutes of the first half but Mokone Marabe’s goal was ruled offside.
Linare started the second half on a high note pushing numbers forward.
To deal with Linare’s pacey players, Bantu made their first change on 58 minutes introducing Thabo Lesaoana for Tšepang Sefali, who had a dull game.
Linare also made a change immediately pulling out Mkhize for Basia Tseki.
The home side’s defenders failed to deal with a Kalake corner on 62 minutes and Patrick Nyarko headed to Litšepe Marabe. Marabe easily tapped into the near post and sent supporters into frenzy.
Two minutes later Junior Maba came in for Sidinko but Linare suffered a blow on the 73rd minute after Moshe Mokhatholane pulled a muscle and made way for Billy Pulumo.
Linare’s energy levels immediately dropped and Bantu took control with Lesaoana dictating matters in centre of the park.
Five minutes from time Linare came close to levelling matters but Nyarko put his body on the line as he flicked over Letuka’s strike for a corner.
Three minutes later Bantu came close again but Mokone’s effort found the crossbar after he chipped over Linare goalkeeper Thetsane Sele who was off position.
Bantu’s last change saw Neo Mokhachane coming in for Kalake on the 90th minute.
Emotions got the better of Linare coach Freeze Ntene after the match and his assistant Moses Ramafole spoke on his behalf. Ramafole said their charges had a lapse in concentration.
“We started with in a high tempo and the boys were tired in the last 30 minutes,” Ramafole said adding: “We then lost concentration and conceded”.
“However, we are still building. Rome was not built in a day, so we will continue working.”
Bantu coach Bob Mafoso was a happy man and admitted that they had to sweat for the result.
“We are happy with the three points. The truth is we had to sweat for the win against a well-rested team. They started on a high but I know my team. When their energy levels dropped, we performed better,” Mafoso said.
The situation was so tense after the match with supporters baying for Ntene’s blood and armed security officers had to come to his rescue.
Elsewhere, Likhopo registered a 3-1 over Swallows at LCS Ground while Lioli and Liphakoe drew nil-all.