Moorosi Tsiane
THE defending Econet Premier League champions, Bantu, have an uphill task this afternoon in a do-or-die return match of the CAF Confederations Cup against Enugu Rangers in Nigeria.
A Matšo Matebele go into the match under the immense pressure of having to overcome a 2-1 deficit they suffered here at home last weekend at Setsoto Stadium.
The James Madidilane coached side will have to find the back of the net at least twice with no reply if they are to advance into the group stages of this tournament.
It is a fact that beating Rangers in their own backyard is going to be the most difficult test Bantu will have to pass. Given their performance at home, the chances of scoring more than once in Nigeria are very slim.
The Mafeteng outfit had a chance to beat Rangers but squandered it by giving away two goals to the visiting side early into the match. They only scored the consolation in the dying minutes of the second half through substitute Lazola Tjokotjokwana.
I understand that the team came into the match without some of their key players such as a defender Mkhwanazi Mkhwanazi and their anchorman Lindokuhle Phungulwa.
Mkhwanazi was suspended having amassed …yellow cards while Phungulwa was nursing an injury.
But honestly that can’t be an excuse because Bantu still created some chances and they looked solid but were let down by their last line of attack which they failed to bury their chances.
One mistake which I think the Bantu coach committed was opting to start the with the duo of Bokang Sello and Tumelo Maine as wingers when he still had the youngsters Neo Mokhachane and Mokone Marabe on the bench.
Madidilane was forced to make a first half substitute pulling out Maine who was having a bad day and appeared unfit since he has not future regularly for Bantu since his return from the injury.
Sello was also pulled out during the half time break with Tjokotjokwana coming in his place.
Sello whose natural position is the left back also struggled to gel with the rest of the team and was in most cases giving away balls cheaply.
I hope the Bantu technical team learnt something from that loss and will approach the second leg match with a different mindset.
Madidilane has said it is not yet over and I also believe they can still do it although it is not going to be a stroll in the park.
Rangers came here with a plan not to lose the match and most of the time they set back and let Bantu enjoy the possession which in most cases was done in Bantu’s half and therefore were not posing any danger to their opponents.
Bantu got most of the things wrong in the first leg and there is no doubt that if there is anyone to be blamed should they exit from the tourney, then it has to be Bantu.
They had a chance to win the first leg and go into the second leg with less pressure away from home where they are most likely to face a hostile reception just to unseat their nerves.
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