In not so clear cut terms Mike Sithole has admitted that Centre Chiefs’ title hopes are fading after a one all draw away to BDF XI this past Saturday. Although Sithole insists the league challenge is not over yet, the team just has a mathematical chance of winning the league.
Speaking after his team played to a one all draw away to BDF XI this past Saturday, the Chiefs gaffer vowed his team will fight until the last game. In a tightly contested game played at the Molepolole Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon, Magosi came from behind to draw with BDF XI as their title defence slipped from their grasp. Against BDF XI, Magosi started on a slow note and were pegged back just nine minutes into the game as Keeagile Kobe beat a Chiefs’ offside trap to slot past Wrist Sephekolo. Chiefs could however not mount any tangible response and nearly found themselves two goals behind ‘Matebele,’ only for Sephekolo to deny Khumbulani Madziba just four minutes from recess.
Chiefs were then given a lifeline just three minutes from recess as Madziba’s well taken goal was controversially ruled offside by the referee. Chiefs then got their equalising goal on the 61st minute as Thatayaone Ramatlapeng, who had come in as a second half substitute poked a goal in after coming at the end of a well taken Pontsho Moloi pass. BDF XI then survived a scare late on in the game as Masule produced an excellent save to deny them, before they hit the upright. At the other end, Madziba was unlucky to see his effort cannon off the crossbar as both teams settled for a draw. The stalemate left ‘Magosi’ trailing league leaders Township Rollers by six points in the league race, while also two points behind second placed Orapa United with just two matches remaining. Both Chiefs and Orapa are also playing second fiddle to Rollers in the goals tally, with ‘Popa’ 18 goals ahead of the two rivals.
Despite such a forbidding chasm between them and the title rivals, Sithole is adamant that his team still has an outside chance of winning the league and will soldier on. “We still have two more games to go and the fight is not over yet. Right now, we will be concentrating on our games until the last game,” Sithole said.
The gaffer added that whatever the outcome of the league race may be, he wanted his team to be proud after ‘putting in a good fight to defend their title.’
