FC Broadhurst gores Marina

Marina FC hold the unfamiliar title of being the only team to inflict damage to Chipolopolo’s amazing winning streak and as they took on FC Broadhurst yesterday, it was more of a given for them that victory was theirs as FC Broadhurst was still licking wounds from the unforgettable 5-1 defeat at the hands of Chipolopolo.


But Marina forgot that last week’s defeat was enough to incite an urge for better performance from Broadhurst as a consecutive defeat could not be entertained. It was a matter of egos that were bruised with no sign of mercy and it was a FC Broadhurst's turn to bruise the egos of Marina.

Once beaten twice shy- Coach Bongs was back on the bench to lead his charges. He pacified his wife by sending her on a shopping spree so that he could find time to out wit the doctors from Marina General Hospital. He immediately left after the game ended and no ill reports have been received from Mogoditshane implying all is well.

Employing Coach Bongs' attacking 4-3-3 formation, Marina were subjected to an avalanche of raids from the first whistle till close of play. Tawu partnered Mozy at central defense while Freed and Thando flanked them. Ronny was anchoring the midfield while Simba and Toffy completed the trio in midfield. Upfront was Zeal, Tinz and Benji.

A win over Marina was so crucial that coach Bongs could not rest Benji who joined the team at half time after a trip from Orapa. Signs of jet-leg could be seen in his game but he did not put a foot wrong although some felt he could have at least hit the back of the net after the referee had whistled him off-side: the lanky striker had skied his effort over the bar faced with a yawning goal.

Toffy, opened the scoring account for a match that would end 8-3 in favour of FC Broadhurst. Some people really know how to put into practice what they learn in class as exhibited by young Toffy who is studying Sports Science at South Africa's North West University. His industry in midfield told a story of a person who knows what he is doing - his deft touches resulted in well calibrated passes to the strikers.

Freed has been playing exceptionally well of late and it is unfortunate that mention is always given to goal scorers only. He had another sterling performance on the pitch and he capped the fine day's work by heading home his first goal of the season. It took long to come but it was worth the wait as it came at a time when Marina was now threatening to come back into the game. Toffy had won a corner just a quarter of an hour into the second half and as Ronny lined up to take it, Freed beckoned him to direct it to his forehead- and as it was in the days of David Beckham and Dwight Yorke, the goalkeeper could only pick the ball from the back of the net.

Not to be outdone by his defense colleague, Thando made a surging run on the right flank in the process out muscling his two markers, he then slid the ball to Tinz after selling a dummy to another defender who had ran over to assist his despairing teammates. Tinz then did a perfect rendition of typical Lionel Messi goals. He rounded an advancing goalkeeper and left him in a heap before curling the ball into the bottom far left end of the goal, way out of reach of a defender who was stretching his tired legs in futile attempt to prevent an inevitable reality.

With victory certain, FC Broadhurst started toying with Marina. Zeal received a flamboyant pass from Toffy and he said his thank yous to the young man by weaving his way through a thicket of Marina defenders and midfielders with the ball closely guarded at his feet. They tried to floor him but his big frame denied them, instead he literally left them for dead. He got them hacking each other as they now tried to prevent him from unleashing a thunderbolt of shot at goal. Two dreadlocked Marina defenders got into each other's way and all that could be seen were dreadlocks all over the place, a bundle of soccer boots and a smiling Zeal.

Marina tried hard to get back into the game but their midfield was denied space to manourve thereby starving their strikers. FC Broadhurst's defense kept a high line which meant more cover for its midfield while leaving Marina strikers in the offside position. Mozy and Tawu were now playing as midfielders and surely who could resist the sweet temptation as Marina seemed to have resigned, accepted defeat and merely waiting for the final whistle.

Chipolopolo mauls Broadhurst

If there is ever going to be a weekend that needs to be quickly forgotten, for FC Broadhurst players, it has to be that of 21 March 2010 when they were literally dissected by a Chipolopolo team that last lost a match in 2008, writes Simba Nembaware.

It was a weekend of mixed fortunes: For those in Botswana, Chipolopolo stretched their unbeaten run while FC Broadhurst had their ego severely bruised. In England, Liverpool saw their hopes for a fourth place finish in the premiership dealt a big blow when they lost 2-1 at Old Trafford to the Red Devils, while Chelsea let one hand off the title as they were held at Blackburn thanks to a late second half El Hadji Diouf header that nullified Didier Drogba's first half strike. Arsenal had bagged a trio of points the night before after shrugging off the challenge of their London rivals, West Ham.

Broadhurst walked into the Wildlife Stadium adjacent to SSG with their heads high and tails pointing upwards as it was on this very pitch that exactly seven days ago, the team had with sheer ease like a hot knife through butter dismantled Hamas, a team with a serious Muslim connection. It was more of Christians versus Muslims contest with the former walking away 7-2 victors. The Hamas match was still fresh in everyone's minds as it had pitied Benji against Enoch Mapindu, his brother in law, with Benji walking home with a smile as his brother in law was on the losing side.

But yesterday there was surely not going to be any smiles instead it was a picture of tails neatly tucked between hind legs. Before the game, the whole of Broadhurst team was excreting fear and it could smelt and felt when no one was brave enough to pick the team's starting eleven. "I have always wanted to pick the team but i cannot be made to pick it today because you guys will go about saying my team lost," said Packers vehemently refusing the baton stick that was later accepted by Zeal.

Umhedehede is a Ndebele word used to describe a condition when one's gut and bowels are weakened because of fright thereby creating a desire for an urgent use of the toilet. Freedmore had a serious attack of umhedehede and he was seen squatting behind a thicket of bushes that were a stone throw away. When he had relieved himself, he came jogging only to be greeted by a unison chorus "Ichi chinonzi Chipolopolo chinomamisa" (This is Chipolopolo, it makes you shit). Freed's actions highlighted the biblical saying - "For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" If such fright could be witnessed in stalwarts like Freed, then there was definately no hope for FC Broadhurst.

Coach Bongs was absent choosing to relax at home and watch the "Coca-Cola celebrate the goal" programme on Supersport. With the team's brains AWOL, the writing that was bold and clear on the wall was about Broadhurst's defeat.

The players managed to contain Chipolopolo who among their ranks is a former Township Rollers player. The bigger chunk of the game was a one all goal freeze: Broadhurst's goal came from the penalty spot after Tins had been brought down in the box. Tiego converted but Tins was severely injured and could not take further part in the game-he limped off the pitch. From that tackle, Tins got a battery of injuries and chief among them was a bruised lip and it is hoped that it will not affect his performance in other fixtures.

It was a just matter of time before the men in green and white stripes out did the flock that had no shepherd. Benji was quoted after the matching saying it was a tough match and the following day he was still smarting from the defeat when he posted on his facebook profile that his body was still aching after a toilsome match.

A rematch has been penciled for the first week of May 2010 and hopes are that by then FC Broadhurst would have got their act back together again but of urgent concern is next week's fixture against Marina FC.

Marina hold the bragging rights of being the team to ever inflict a defeat on Chipolopolo. One is easily forgiven for equating this to the grueling 14 days that the Gunners of London went through early this year when they faced Manchester United and Chelsea in consecutive premier league matches.

Zeal's quartet of goals puts Broadhurst back to winning ways

Sunday's match against Kgalagadi Breweries Ltd, a team whose unbeaten stretch precedes them before every match, was surely going to be a scintillating and tantalizing bout as FC Broadhurst walked onto the pitch with a bruised ego following their last week defeat by minnows Carli Clothing that marked the clubs first loss in 2010, writes Simba Nembaware.
The brewers of the wise waters employed dirty mind games before kick off- they labeled FC Broadhurst "Small Boys" and Zeal seemed to have taken it as a personal insult considering his bulk frame and he scored a quick brace when the match had commenced. This is the brace that poured water on the over rated brewers' game. Judging from the tone of his voice, Mozy has never been called a small boy - and he chose to prove who the small boys were on the field of play.

The 9 - 4 win had many talking points with the first being a clean sheet that was kept by Simba while he was in goals for a quarter of an hour that he was on the field. Zeal got his brace while Simba was between the sticks coordinating well his defense. Zeal was to prove that he's a man of many talents as in the second half he played as the goalkeeper who let in two goals.

It should be hastened to note that Kgalagadi Breweries Ltd's players were not drunk - they were sober as the match was played in the morning at 10 o'clock. None of the players had a hang over lest their defeat be attributed to a night of bliss punctuated with the imbibing of alcohol. On their bench was a trio of managers while FC Broadhurst only had the singular familiar face of Bongs who however was the match's referee meaning noone was to bark instructions at his team: but maybe he needs not to bark as he prefers talking before the match, during half time and after the match.  

The game marked the return of Karabo "Skara" who capped a sterling performance in the midfield by scoring a penalty. He seemed to be carrying a lot of burden as his midfield partner, (Player With No Name) had a penchant of going forward and not returning back to his position.

Benji was at the heart of defense, partnering Mozy in central defense and it really a first to see Benji not straying out of position. He is surely growing in terms of positional and technical discipline. Bra Hlo was pulling the strings in the midfield while Ronny was taking care of business from the left back position. Bra Hlo eased the pressure at the centre of the pitch by spraying the ball wide which in turn also gave his defense composure and breathing space.

Freedmore was to come in and push bra Hlo wide to the wing and have the central midfield to himself but his team mates say this was the turning point of the match as the brewers begun dominating play. Ronny found himself marking two people and it was inevitable that the brewers would finally find the back of the net.

Before taking it onto the field of play Freedmore had confided in this reporter that he was going to score his first goal of the season and his desire to score explains why he lacked positional discipline as he often ventured forward leaving gaps in the midfield.

Just like Drogba and Anelka at Chelsea, Tinz and Zeal have proved that they can not be played in the same team. Anelka thrives on Drogba's absence and Zeal just did that yesterday. He was a joy to watch, bringing flashing images of his hey days at Central where he would hold the ball, bring his midfielders into play then create space for other to play before positioning himself well for that final shot at goal. He could have scored more than four but history records that a hatrick is every player's dream and what more could he wish for than to add one more goal to his hat-trick.

For the team's progress, Tinz and Zeal have to learn to play together and feed off each other while Freed and Thutsi need positional discipline. An out right goalkeeper is a major concern for such a high scoring team - the rear guard is always good considering the exploits of Packers, Mozy, Ronny, Tsvangirai but their oustanding performances are always undone by the likes of Vusa Mrava.

Broadhurst eats humble pie

FC Broadhurst's unbeaten run came to an abrupt end yesterday following a 7-5 defeat by Carli Clothing at UB Stadium in a match whose outcome was decided single handedly by comic goalkeeper Vusa Mrava whose exploits were enough for the moomish of the week award.

The team's line of defence was dubious, the midfield was lacking while there was no cohesion up front in the strikeforce. Despite these problems the team found themselves leading 3-2 at half time and it all seemed like one of those mornings when 3 points had been grabbed but it was before Vusa Mrava started his antics - trying to stop a bolt of a shot with the studs of his over sized boots. Each time he did that the ball sneaked through and hit the net and he seemed not to learn from his mistake as he did that unbelievable move three times.

Faces of dejection summed the story of a team whose best players on the day were Tawurai and Moses who were playing for Carli Clothing. They did not play like mercinaries, instead they laid bare FC Broadhurst's lack of positional discipline, winning mentality, tactical awareness and a desire to win.

Benjamin and Thutsi were the major culprits on positional discipline as they strayed away from their positions leaving voids that the opponents gladly filled and manipulated with perfect execution leading to them dominating a match that was not meant to be theirs. This duo has a penchant for being where the ball is especially when the team has possession and is attacking but then the pair is an emboidment of disappointment when the team is suddenly under attack and they have to dash back to their positions and avert danger.

Instead of using the offside rule to their advantage, Shamwari and Alex combined well at the back to always keep the opponents on-side a norm that should not have been considering the person between the sticks for Broadhurst. The keeper seemed to have premeditated this defeat as he seemed unpertubed by angry mumblings of his team mates.

Before the match, Mrava had made fun of his opposing number who had his hands raised towards the heavens as he sought devine intervention and the innocent looking teenager surely got his desire as Zeal, Tinashe, Benji, Thulani, Freedmore and Alex took turns of either shooting off target, shooting tamely, straight and weakly at the goalie or just losing their footing at the most critical moment.