New Tzaneen United coach Thabiso Msongelwa was impressed with his team’s performance against arch rivals Nkowankowa Continental.
By: Refilwe Sebola
Tzaneen United FC has once again demonstrated their superiority in the local derby against arch-rivals Nkowankowa Continental, securing a well-deserved 2-1 victory over the weekend.
The match, held in front of a reasonably attended Nkowankowa Stadium, was the third derby encounter between the two ABC Motsepe League clubs. Last season, they drew their first derby match, while Tzaneen United won the second one.
Both teams started the game energetically, fiercely contesting every opportunity. United employed a neat passing style combined with precise defensive splits, but their poor finishing squandered multiple chances. Continental, who relied more on transition play, also had several scoring opportunities but failed to convert.
The turning point came in the first half when Continental found the opener through a brilliant free-kick by the ever-impressive William Bopape, whose strike left the goalkeeper stunned. However, Tzaneen equalized almost immediately, courtesy of Tshepo Msiza, who capitalized on a defensive error from a Continental defender.
Continental’s misfortune continued in the second half when their defender inadvertently handled the ball in the penalty area, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Star player Thulani Mbonani confidently converted the penalty, securing three crucial points for his team.
“Lebapola” is now back in the title chase, positioned fifth with 11 points from 7 games. They join four other clubs in the top five, all tied on 11 points after seven matches, except for second-placed Vondwe XI Bullets and league leaders Selwane White Vultures, who have played six games and achieved 12 points, respectively.
Coach Thabiso Msongelwa praised his team’s performance and attributed the victory to careful planning and preparation. “We prepared very well because we knew it would be a tough derby match. We were smart in our preparation; we aimed to play and dominate the game, even though the pitch was uneven. Our plan worked,” he stated.
Tzaneen will face the unpredictable Munaca away at Makhado Showground this Saturday.