Black Leopards Head Coach Owen Dagama blames muti for his team’s 1-0 loss to Baroka FC
By: Refilwe Sebola
Top coach Owen Da Gama of Black Leopards blames muti for his side’s 1-0 loss to Baroka FC in a crucial Motsepe Foundation league match at Baroka Soccer Village in Lebowakgomo last Sunday.
Leopards came in to the game guns blazing needing nothing less than a win to keep their head above water. They are tottering on the bottom of the log with just eighteen points from twenty-five games.
To avoid the chop they must win all their remaining five games and hope that platinum City Rovers and MM Platinum lose theirs.
Fourth from the bottom side MM Platinum fc had lost their game against top of the log side Castric Stars fc 1-0 a day before which gave” Lidodadovha” a glimmer of hope coming to this game.
Leopards threw everything at Baroka fc in the first twenty minutes of the game hoping to get an early goal, but they were denied by the home side’s solid defence.
Their star midfielder Tiklas Thutlwa who was linked to a move to premier soccer league giants Kaizer Chiefs FC tried his luck with shots on goal from outside the box but poor technique led him down.
Baroka came back strongly in the last twenty five minutes of the game however their lethal shot at goal from Ntiyeso Bombi was spectacularly saved by 34 year old experienced goal minder Jackson Mobokgwane. The game was locked at 0-0 stalemate at recess.
Leopards made substitution in the second half bringing in Zanele Zulu for Wiseman Maluleke. The changes seemed to have added extra edge in the visitor’s attacking impetus but their clear shots at goal were thwarted by top goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke who had man of the match performance. Baroka found their only goal of the match via the boot of Sydney Malebani whose freekick beat Jackson Mabokgwane at full stretch.” Ledodaduvha” tried to find the equalizer towards the dying minutes of the game but their clear scoring opportunities fell in to the hands of Masuluke.
The victory exalted gifted Baroka from a dangerous position thirteen on the log to position eleven with twenty nine points in twenty-five games.
Disappointed Black Leopard coach Owen Dagama did not hesitate to blame muti for his team’s inability to find the net. “We did everything we had to do to score today, but the ball refused to get in to the net. You saw it yourself. It’s muti” he said
