06 Oct 2014

Township Rollers coach says he is not happy with his team’s performance, despite scoring avalanche of goals against Letlapeng in a be Mobile Premier League encounter  at Sir Seretse Khama Barracks on October 4.

Rollers humiliated Letlapeng 4-0, courtesy of Segolame Boy, Leutlwetse Tshireletso and Manqoba Ngwenya’s brace, but coach Madinda Ndlovu said the team created a lot of scoring opportunities which they failed to convert, more especially in the first stanza.

“I am currently worried about lack of convention, but it terms of fitness, and playing style they are fine, but not all is lost because we will try to work on that,” he said.

During the game, Rollers came with guns blazing in the opening minutes of the game, but several players, amongst them Simisane Mathumo, Boy and Jerome Louis squandered all the scoring opportunities.

Mapalastina never lost hope, though Letlapeng frustrated them given that Mma Masire lads had budgeted for an early goal.Their fighting spirit was rewarded in the 41st minute as Boy opened the score sheet to make it 1-0 before half time.

After the break, Rollers players came with the same spirit of moving more forward and on the 46th minute, Leutlwetse Tshireletso increased the goal tally to two nil.

The goal created a lot of confusion on the host, Letlapeng and it was evident that they resorted to defensive tactic. On the 63rd, Madinda pulled Motsholetsi Sikele out and introduced Manqoba Ngwenya, who changed the whole complexion of the game.

Ngwenya who is also known for playing entertaining football with his killer passes, kept Rollers supporters asking for me when passing the ball to his team-mates.

It did not come as a surprise on the 68th minute when he scored the third goal, for Mapalastina. When Rollers supporters were still trying to come to terms on how he easily converted the goal, he scored yet another cracker on the 73rd minute to make it 4-nil.

Meanwhile, Letlapeng, coach Nelson Olebile told BOPA that his players’ fitness level cost the team, given that their training programme was affected by the Independence break.

Olebile, who conceded that the break affected the rhythm, said his opponents were not tactically good on the day. He said Rollers rely heavily on their speed, but they managed to contain them.

However, he said his players were affected by the first goal. “They lost confidence but those are the challenges that we face as coaches. I will work on their confidence and for now I will utilise the material that I have until the next window,” he said.

In other games played on Saturday, Extension Gunners walloped Ecco City Greens 1-0, Orapa United beat Gaborone United 1-0 while BDF XI increased BR Highlanders woes by walloping them 3-1. Nico United managed to hold Mochudi Centre Chiefs to a two-all draw, while Sankoyo Bush Bucks and Notwane also played to a one all draw. Ends