Gaborone United (GU) supporters, who thronged to Lobatse Stadium on Sunday for their Be MOBILE Premier League game against BMC, left the noisy southern town fuming after watching their side held to a goalless draw by the Meat Commission-sponsored outfit.
The supporters, who came to the game with high hopes, left with their heads down as their side huffed and puffed the entire 90 minutes. The draw leaves the mighty Reds at position three with 14 points, four points off the log leaders Mochudi Centre Chiefs after week seven of the 2011-2012 Premier League season.
On Sunday, GU missed a couple of chances, which could have won them the game if it was not of the wasteful GU forwards, especially Zimbabwean strikers Dillion Chivandire and Baloni Chiseko.
The two strikers surprisingly started ahead of proven Zambian hotshot Ronald Chikomo who had to watch from the bench for almost 60 minutes. Both Chivandire and Chiseko could not provide the spark the Reds needed upfront and, with Mandla Mgadla kept quiet by the home side, it seemed GU supporters would return empty-handed.
At some stage, GU supporters whistled and jeered when Chiseko was in possession, something which prompted coach Elvis Chiweshe to withdraw the burly striker towards the end of the game.
Since arriving at the Reds at the beginning of this season, almost every GU supporter has not been convinced by Chiseko. Things seem to be getting worse with almost every game as he continues to falter and the goal he scored against BDF XI the previous time has not done him any favours.
“We can’t come all this way for a draw. If the coach continues to stick with these strikers because they’re his homeboys then we’ve a problem. Chiseko has failed to convince us since the beginning of the season and to prefer him ahead of Chikomo is something else,” said one supporter as they reviewed the game.
Some of the supporters further suggested that if they entertain challenging Mochudi Centre Chiefs, BDF XI, Nico United and Township Rollers for honours, their management has to go out and buy quality strikers during the January transfer period.
The absence of influential midfielder Stephen Maposa did not help matters for GU. On Monday morning, Chiweshe said he fails to understand what the fuss is all about as he is trying to build a team which will compete for honours next season.
“I don’t know whether someone has promised the supporters that we’ll win the league but I’ve made it clear from the start we’ll be building this season. I want people to make constructive criticism because building a new team does not come overnight,” said Chiweshe.
He concurred with his supporters that the team missed a couple of chances in the game but pointed out that it is something which happens in a game of football.
On leaving Chikomo on the bench, the gaffer said that he had no choice as most of the substitute players lacked experience.
“I wanted to have one of the strikers on the bench so that he can come on when things get tough. Credit must go to BMC because they also executed themselves well, it seemed like they have played together for some time yet there are new faces in their team,” he said. ┬á
After seven games, it seemed Chiweshe would be under immense pressure in the upcoming games, especially if he continues to stick with the two Zimbabwean strikers. The Reds have tough remaining fixtures coming up with log leaders Chiefs next on their menu.
The rest of the weekend results are as follows;
BDF XI 0-0 GNT
Rollers 4-0 Miscellaneous
Police XI 0-4 Nico United
ECCO City Greens 2-0 Extension Gunners
Centre Chiefs 2-0 FC Satmos
Flamengo Santos 0-3 Notwane
TAFIC 1-1 Mogoditshane Fighters
