TTM still unbeaten

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) maintained their unbeaten record by beating TS Galaxy 1-0 in their NFD League match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.

The visitors from Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga looked hopeless in the first 20 minutes of the game and only gained momentum towards the end of the first half.

Realizing that it was difficult for them to break TTM’s rock-solid wall, the Galaxy’s technical team effected the first change to their starting 11 only 14 minutes into the game. Mfundo Phungwayo made way for Siyabonga Khumalo.

Khumalo formed a good combination with Johannes Mashao in the middle of the park, but the defenders of TTM, Carlington Nyadombo and Tshepo Makgoga, refused to allow strangers within their territory.

The Pretoria-born referee, Mr Cheslin Plaatjies, flashed the first yellow card in the 19^th minute. Terrence Mashego of Galaxy found himself on the wrong side of the football laws when he tackled Patrick Meso the rough way.

TTM threatened to score two minutes afterwards. Their former Black Leopards and Kaizer Chiefs striker, David Zulu, shot wide from the edge of the box.

The important goal that earned the three match points for TTM was scored by Edward Manqele. He gave the ball the final touch after Onyedikachi Ononogbu dished a square pass from the left corner.

Galaxy approached the last half with aggression. What could have been their equalizing goal in the 57^th minute turned into nightmare when TTM’s keeper, Tshepo Ramaele, palmed Zairon Abrahams’s half volley away for a corner kick.

TTM strengthened their striking force by introducing Khotso Chabeli and Aluwani “Killer” Nedzamba for Edward Manqele and David Zulu respectively. Aubass Bathusi of Galaxy was reprimanded with a card after tackling Nhlanhla Mgaga from behind.

“We have lost to a better team,” said the coach of Galaxy, Mr Vusi Mkhathwa, in an interview after the game.

Date:06 September 2018

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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