1-1 draw for Polokwane
Polokwane is now in 10th position with 25 points after playing 19 games.
POLOKWANE – Mokopane Ratanang FC and Polokwane United FC locked horns in the ABC Motsepe League on the fields of Noordelikes Rugby Club on Saturday.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw after Polokwane United opened the scoring line in the first half of the game. This first goal put Ratanang under pressure as they tried to find an equaliser.
By halftime Polokwane was still in the lead with 1-0 but their joy was cut short as Ratanang found an equaliser in the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The two teams had an equal amount of ball possession but seemed hesitant to take a shot at finding the back of the net.
Polokwane United Head Coach, Bally Smart, said his team could have won the game but his strikers let the chances created slip through their fingers.
“We started well and we were in control of the game during the first half. However, our defensive players and midfielders gave the opponents enough room to play and this cost us three points,” explained Smart.
Ratanang came back to the party after scoring an equaliser and started attacking Polokwane strongly with the aim to add another goal to their list.
Polokwane is now in 10th position with 25 points after playing 19 games to which Smart said they are not fighting for the top positions but rather building momentum for the next season. He added their aim was to finish in the top four teams.
Polokwane will face off against Lephalale Young Killers today (Wednesday) at the Polokwane Rugby Fields at 13:00 while Ratanang will go toe-to-toe with Joe Mawela FC at Mahwelereng Stadium at 15:00.
Ratanang Head Coach, Jacky Ledwaba, said his boys missed a lot of opportunities and this almost cost them the game. He said they had to chase after Polokwane in the second half for them to find an equaliser. “We are now 14th with 19 points after 23 games which is why our upcoming games are crucial because we don’t want to be relegated. We have to win as many games as possible to secure a spot in the league,” said Ledwaba.
The ABC Motsepe League is the South African Football Association (Safa) second division and overall third tier named in honour of Patrice Motsepe’s late father, Augustine Butana Chaane Motsepe.
The league currently features 144 teams in total, divided into nine divisions after the nine provinces of South Africa. This means each provincial division contains 16 teams as standard. The winner of each provincial division qualifies for the annual Promotional Play-offs where the winners of two streams will get promoted to the National First Division (NFD).
In each province, the two lowest ranked teams by the end of the season will be relegated to the u/21 SAB Regional League, which in return will promote two play-off winners from the Regional Championships.
