Orapa United coach Mogotsi Teenage Mpote has exclusively explained his tactical master plan that helped the Ostriches get the better of Township Rollers after beating them 2-0 on Saturday afternoon in the Botswana Premier League.
Oakame and Kamogelo Moloi scored in either half at Itekeng Stadium to hand Mpote revenge over Rollers who sacked him two months ago in an acrimonious manner barely seven games into this FNB Premiership season.
In an interview with Pan-Africa Football, the former Zebras mentor insisted that he returned to face Popa with no hard feelings while admitting that inside knowledge of the opponents’ players worked to his advantage.
“I don’t hold grudges. I planned to beat them because I knew they would bring this one to this position. If that one is not there, this other player would be there,” he explained.
The 62-year-old said he closed the midfield forcing Rollers to play long balls which his watertight defence dealt with.
“I had to close the midfield of all the options because I have a strong defence. I wanted them to play a long ball which they did and the execution was to let them play that long ball and win the second ball from the defence,” he said.
“The game was simple because all the channels were closed and the long ball plan was also working…Transition was good and that is why they were in for it. I am happy with the result,” Mpote said.
The Ostriches sit in ninth place, 16 points behind the third-placed Popa who have suffered their second defeat in the 16-member log table which Gaborone United lead.
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