16 Apr 2015

The keg has been laid, only awaiting to be ignited on Saturday (April 18) when Township Rollers meets Gaborone United in an anticipated no blows barred encounter.

The last time the two met in a cup final was in 1993, remember that Coca Cola cup finale where Rollers humiliated GU 4-1 at the National Stadium? Since then the two rivals have never met in a cup final, but karma knows no address.

Twenty two years later the two city rivals are set to meet in a similar fashion, this time the Mascom Top 8 final which is the envy of every serious premier league team.

Remember that the 4-1 loss to Rollers was seen in some GU quarters as a bad omen for their troops because just because the encounter, team Manager Wellie Seboni lost his wife and was still in mourning.

Mapalastina were not doing very well that season and the clobbering of the Reds brought cheer to their supporters. Rollers’ goals were scored by the late Joseph Chikoti who was still new in the Mapalastina camp, Mmoni Segopolo and

Desmond Molefe, while Moyagolelele’s consolation netted by Patrick Zibochwa. Rollers, who were overwhelming underdogs on the day, played mind games by not using the normal entry tunnel and resorting to use different gate. GU apparently fell for those tricks.

Gaborone United earned their tag Money Machine because those years they won major competitions, but Rollers ended that dominance on that day, and it seemed to bring a curse on GU as they went on to struggle to win trophies for many years.

Gaborone United was well organised then, and had a Kwasa Kwasa band led by Power which would mesmerise spectators before the game.

Out of fear Rollers at some point complained to the then Botswana Football Association secretary general Ashford Mamelodi that they did not want to play with Money Machine at night because they knew GU was merciless under flood lights.

Maybe Rollers feared the crop of GU players who were very committed and knew the importance of donning the red and white kit amongst them Mandla Balanda, Marco Chuma, Gofhamodimo ‘City’ Senne, Rapelang Tsatsilebe, Chandy Moruti and Patrick Zibochwa.

However, Rollers had equally good players like Joseph Chikoti, Richard ‘3 Litre’ Kwapa, Mmoni ‘States’ Segopolo, and Desmond Molefe.

But all that is history now, and it is back to reality on Saturday when two ‘brothers’ from Zimbabwe Rahman Gumbo and Malinda Ndlovu lead their respective teams Mascom Top 8 final.

Gumbo is an experienced customer who has coached the Zimbabwe national football team before. 

He was appointed GU head-coach in 2014. ‘Thuthani’ has won many league titles before, twice with Highlanders in Zimbabwe, once with Telecom Wanderers in Malawi, and once with Township Rollers in Botswana. He also won the Coca Cola Cup with Rollers in 2010.

Ndlovu is one of the most qualified coaches around with a coaching A-License. He has coached Motlakase Power Dynamos, Nico United, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, and Highlanders in Zimbabwe. He has won league titles with both Rollers and Centre Chiefs.

However, since his arrival in Botswana, Ndlovu has struggled to win a cup competition, and it remains to be seen if he will rise to the occasion and inflict pain on his countryman.

Looking at players from the respective teams, both side have capable and talented players who can cause havoc on the day, Gaborone United will depend on the free scoring Namibian international Benson Shilongo, the speed of Kgololo Kgogobi , the creativity of Ntesang Simanyana, and the safe hands of hugely talented goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko

Although they are not doing well in the league and are in position four with 45 points and from 26 games they have played, having won13, draw six, and lost seven. 

However, it will be suicidal for Rollers to judge GU on their logo-standing, because this is a cup final, and it will be a total different ball game.

Township Rollers equally has an arsenal of good players, who can win the Mascom Top 8 for them. Players such as Manqoba Ngwenya, Jerome Loius, Segolame Boy, Kobamelo Kebaikanye, Maano Ditshupo and their experience goal keeper Noah Maposa.

Rollers will be the favorites on Saturday the log standings are anything to go by. They are on position two with 52 points, having played 26 games, and won 16, drew four and lost six.

Now the million dollar question is who will leave the National Stadium smiling on Saturday, would it be Tymon Katholo and Nicholas Zakhem of Gaborone United or Somerset Gobuiwang and Jagdish Shah of Township Rollers.  ENDS