Wits coach Karabo Mogudi said that the 1-0 win against NMMU on Monday was just reward for some careful planning.
Replacement Graeme Dor scored the only goal of the game in the second half, and Mogudi was delighted with the result which puts them in joint second place on the standings.
“I am happy for the boys, the three points are welcome. It seems all of our careful planning was successful,” he said.
The teams last met in 2013 when Wits lost 3-1 to the Madibaz.
The match was delayed by 30mins but this did not deter the teams from putting on a show at the Bidvest Stadium.
The game began on equal footing with both teams eager to gain control of the game. Five minutes into the match Kieran Koert of the Madibaz suffered an injury to the head and was replaced by Simamkele Thobi who would prove to be instrumental in most of the chances taken by the Madibaz in the first half.
The combination of Captain Athini Bisha, Sachin Jackson and Thobi made Wits goalie Brylon Petersen work hard to keep a clean sheet.
In the 21st minute Wits began dominating the game with Phuthi Leboho moving the ball into the NMMU half of the pitch to the waiting feet of Hlohonolofatso Mahate and Mahle Mtabane. Mtabane and Mahate took turns taking shots at goal, with no luck.
After managing to thwart a counter attack led by NMMU’s Jackson, Vuyo Qwesha’s attempt at goal in the 43rd minute went over the cross bar. After missing yet another opportunity in the 43rd minute Wits fans started getting agitated with the team’s apparent inability to convert the various chances into goals.
Cloudious Sagandira of NMMU took a shot in the last seconds of the first half that landed in Petersen’s hands. By the time the first half whistle was blown, both teams were still held at a goalless draw.
The second half of the game was dominated by NMMU. Players Bisha, Jackson and Litha Fingo made life difficult for Wits in the centre of the park.
In the 57th minute a collision that saw Wits’ Wonderboy Frank replaced by Graeme Dor would bring a complete change to the game. Dor, who became affectionately known as ‘Mlungu’ was at the centre of an attack that Mtabane side netted.
Dor led the counter attack after the missed opportunity. With a shot in the 60th minute, Dor scored the first goal of the evening and the first for Wits in the tournament.
Madibaz coach Graeme Harrison expressed his disappointment at the game.
”Sometimes the ball does not roll in your favour. But we well be looking at how to fix some of our mistakes ahead of the next match,” he said.
Wits will play their first away game in the tournament against NWU Pukke on the 3rd August at the Fanie Du Toit Sports Ground while the Madibaz play UP-Tuks at the Tuks Sport Stadium. Kick off for these games is 6pm and 5pm respectively.
By Masego Panyane
