FC Broadhurst 4 (Zeal, Tiego, Toffy, Benji) Culture Spears 2
Playing in a Botswana Football Association (BFA) approved stadium should send shivers down the spines of any Sunday social soccer player but that was not the case with FC Broadhurst as they took on Culture Spears FC at Mogoditshane Fighters’ Stadium in Mogoditshane last Sunday.
The match was surely going to be an exciting one as it had all the ingredients of a thriller. Firstly both teams were wearing blue jerseys with the only difference being that jerseys for Culture Spears had a black strip just below the arm pits. Culture Spears was also wearing black shorts while Broadhurst was in blue shorts.
The first 5 minutes were packed with confusion as passes were misdirected but as the game wore on players got used to each other but no one knows how the referee managed to see if one was in an offside position.
Maybe if Culture Spears changes its name, they will play better soccer. Their name suggests that they are a group of dreadlocked dagga smoking Jamaican reggae music outfit.
FC Broadhurst was without its reliable defence duo of Mozy and Parkers while Tinz was absent thereby making Zeal the only striker available. No one knew why coach Bongs had gone to South Africa for over two weeks but the question was answered when his presence was underlined by that of Toffy.
Coach Bongs explained that he had to travel to South Africa and negotiate with Toffy’s university team so that he could beef up his midfield and also give him options when going forward. Benji was made to wear Mozy’s big boots and he was very comfortable in them as exhibited by him and Thando, his defence partner keeping a clean sheet when the teams went for the half time break. FC Broadhurst was leading 2-0. Theirs was more of a symbiotic relationship as Culture Spears’ strikers failed to find room to manoeuvre let alone test Thutsi who was in goals for Broadhurst
Since Benji’s scoring prowess is going to hell in a handbasket, coach Bongs might be tempted to permanently switch him into defence. It won’t be a first as professionals such as Dutch international and former Manchester United FC and Real Madrid goal talisman, Ruud Van Nisterol started his career as a defender before being turned into the merciless goal scorer he is today.
With Mozy still battling to shrug off a nagging injury, Benji has found a new home. Mozy and Parkers would have to fight for their numbers as the lanky player seemed to be sending the coach a message that “this is my right position, not where you usually play me.”
The match could have finished with Broadhurst having scores that can be counted with fingers from both hands had they utilized all their chances but the strike force of Zeal and Toffy took turns to fluff the chances. Toffy pleaded for clemency way before the kick off whistle stating that he had a sizeable break for soccer and feared it would compromise his play. It was just not his day and when he skied one effort over the cross bar with the goal keeper beaten and nowhere near him, there was a deafening aaahhh from the crowd that had come to watch their home team.
A tired Simba went into oblivion in the second half, while Bra Hlo kept tormenting Culture Spears on the left side of the midfield. Tiego was at his best again and his lovely performance was capped by a Lionel Messi inspired goal- he got a pass from Ronny and turned as if to pass the ball wide to Toffy who was calling for it, leading one midfielder to commit himself in that direction, he charged towards the 18 yard area in process subtracting two defenders with a drag and pull Adebayor control skill, he then rounded a visibly shaken goal keeper to net Broadhurst’s second goal.
Zeal had put Broadhurst in front with a blistering shot that a full stretched and diving Culture Spears goalie could not reach.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Pastor Ncube rescues Broadhurst
A visibly tired Broadhurst team needed divine intervention to avoid what was virtually an inevitable defeat having let go their two nil lead at half time allowing a nameless G-West team come from behind and shoot into a 3-2 lead.
Pastor Ncube who last played soccer in ages came in the second half just in the nick of time and the heavens surely rewarded the industry of the man of the cloth by letting his boot let loose a curling shoot that the goal keeper could only watch as it moved at supersonic speed past him. Infact even if he had reacted he could not reach for it as it was curling away from the centre of the goal and passing the goal line via the top corner of the goal.
Bra Hlo played another blinder of a game - running willy nilly at the opponents' midfielders and defenders. He was really enjoying himself and his spirit was willing to carry on but the flesh was now weak and stand in coach, Benjamin Sibanda pulled him out and in came Pastor Ncube.
The nameless G-West team had employed the services of one football vagabond, Zex in the hopes that he would terrorize Broadhurst but Parkers, Gideon and Thando had other ideas. The usually dependable Zex was belittled to an ordinary left footed footballer.
Zex and his team mates managed to pull back two quick goals courtesy of FC Broadhurst's tired legs. When they grabbed the third, it seemed as if Broadhurst had been relegated to another defeat but there was enough arsenal on the bench to salvage a draw.
But it did not have to end as a draw with Broadhurst holding on for dear life since they could have finished off the nameless team in the first half where the team enjoyed acres of space and possession, creating countless goal scoring opportunities. As become the norm, those scoring chances were squandered.
Pastor Ncube who last played soccer in ages came in the second half just in the nick of time and the heavens surely rewarded the industry of the man of the cloth by letting his boot let loose a curling shoot that the goal keeper could only watch as it moved at supersonic speed past him. Infact even if he had reacted he could not reach for it as it was curling away from the centre of the goal and passing the goal line via the top corner of the goal.
Bra Hlo played another blinder of a game - running willy nilly at the opponents' midfielders and defenders. He was really enjoying himself and his spirit was willing to carry on but the flesh was now weak and stand in coach, Benjamin Sibanda pulled him out and in came Pastor Ncube.
The nameless G-West team had employed the services of one football vagabond, Zex in the hopes that he would terrorize Broadhurst but Parkers, Gideon and Thando had other ideas. The usually dependable Zex was belittled to an ordinary left footed footballer.
Zex and his team mates managed to pull back two quick goals courtesy of FC Broadhurst's tired legs. When they grabbed the third, it seemed as if Broadhurst had been relegated to another defeat but there was enough arsenal on the bench to salvage a draw.
But it did not have to end as a draw with Broadhurst holding on for dear life since they could have finished off the nameless team in the first half where the team enjoyed acres of space and possession, creating countless goal scoring opportunities. As become the norm, those scoring chances were squandered.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A win at last
It had to take a late Benjamin Sibanda strike during the sudden death segment of extra time for FC Broadhurst to register their first win in as many weeks.
Coming from two goals down and managing to level the scores in the second half, Marina threatened to condemn Broadhurst to another defeat but their lack of tactical awareness betrayed their aspirations as they allowed Tiego to detect the pace in the midfield.
Had Tiego been closed down, FC Broadhurst could have lost the match but the ran circles in Marina's half, spreading passes which ever he wanted and Hlo had a field day enjoying play on the left side of the midfield. The duo's combination resulted in a pass that saw Benjamin winning a penalty after being hacked down in the 18 yard box by an under pressure Marina Captain, Maphosa.
Tiego who had scored Broadhurst's two goals in the first half stepped up to take the penalty as he sought to bag his first hat-trick in Broadhurst colours but this remains an elusive dream for him as his penalty shot was brilliantly saved by an impressive Marina goal minder.
However, it would be 20 minutes later that Broadhurst would net its third and wrap up this thunder and lightning encounter that was a must win for Broadhurst following their 5-2 demolition by Chipolopolo last week at Wildlife Stadium.
Although Broadhurst was humbled by Chipolopolo, their performance on the day spelt of a team that is good and eager for results and it was Marina who had to suffer the wrath of the likes of Parkers, Ronny and Mozy whose body language reveals characters that are allergic to defeat.
The referee had to be substituted at half time as impartiality seemed to be Greek to him as he constantly gave decisions in favour of Marina and there are times when his team also could not believe his decisions. You surely can not keep a good man down as Broadhurst managed to surge into the lead during the first half. In the second half the referee cum player had the heavens to thank as he was nearly skinned alive by Parkers after he had verbally assaulted him as Tiego was preparing to take the penalty.
Coming from two goals down and managing to level the scores in the second half, Marina threatened to condemn Broadhurst to another defeat but their lack of tactical awareness betrayed their aspirations as they allowed Tiego to detect the pace in the midfield.
Had Tiego been closed down, FC Broadhurst could have lost the match but the ran circles in Marina's half, spreading passes which ever he wanted and Hlo had a field day enjoying play on the left side of the midfield. The duo's combination resulted in a pass that saw Benjamin winning a penalty after being hacked down in the 18 yard box by an under pressure Marina Captain, Maphosa.
Tiego who had scored Broadhurst's two goals in the first half stepped up to take the penalty as he sought to bag his first hat-trick in Broadhurst colours but this remains an elusive dream for him as his penalty shot was brilliantly saved by an impressive Marina goal minder.
However, it would be 20 minutes later that Broadhurst would net its third and wrap up this thunder and lightning encounter that was a must win for Broadhurst following their 5-2 demolition by Chipolopolo last week at Wildlife Stadium.
Although Broadhurst was humbled by Chipolopolo, their performance on the day spelt of a team that is good and eager for results and it was Marina who had to suffer the wrath of the likes of Parkers, Ronny and Mozy whose body language reveals characters that are allergic to defeat.
The referee had to be substituted at half time as impartiality seemed to be Greek to him as he constantly gave decisions in favour of Marina and there are times when his team also could not believe his decisions. You surely can not keep a good man down as Broadhurst managed to surge into the lead during the first half. In the second half the referee cum player had the heavens to thank as he was nearly skinned alive by Parkers after he had verbally assaulted him as Tiego was preparing to take the penalty.
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