09 May 2016

The last game of the beMOBILE Premiership between Township Rollers and Orapa United on May 7 was turned into a meeting place for the disgruntled Township Rollers supporters.

They did not turn up in large numbers, but few supporters  were brave enough to watch their team playing for nothing after Botswana Premier League Board docked their team 10 points relegating them to third position.

Arriving at the National Stadium, one might think the game was cancelled as supporters were standing in different groups.

When referee Lekgotla Johannes blew his whistle for a kick-off, supporters rushed to stands, but the 10 points reduction was still the topic, with little concentration on what was happening on the pitch.

However on the 38^th minute Segolame Boy forced supporters to concentrate on the game after scoring a beauty outside the eighteen area to make it 1-0.

Now things changed a bit and the supporters were now concentrating on the game, and Rollers players did not disappoint as they displayed good football the typical ‘machesa style’ of soccer.

Rollers continued to enjoy ball possession and creating a lot of scoring opportunities although they failed to increase the score margin.

Orapa on the other hand failed to break Rollers defence which was marshalled by Mogogi Gabonamong. The game went into a recess with Rollers leading 1-0.

After recess, one had thought Orapa who recently beat Rollers 3-1 in Mascom Top 8 final will change the tactics and come from behind and win the game, but that was not the case.

But Rollers still came back with their mission of winning their last game of the season, and three minutes after break, Boy received a good cross from Galabgwe Moyana and he did not waste time but shot it at the back of the net to make it 2-0.

It was very evident that Orapa missed their ever hard working and aggressive player Ronald Chikomo who is still on suspension, although the likes of Patrick Lenyeletse ,and Olekantse Mambo tried to up the game, it was too late to reverse the deficit.

The game ended with 2-0 and Township Rollers coach Mark Harrison congratulated the players for their fighting spirit until the last whistle.

He said Rollers were a better side on the day, adding that they could have scored more goals but luck was not on their side.

Orapa coach, Madinda Ndlovu said Rollers exploited his players mistakes. He however said they had a very good season given that they managed to win the Mascom Top 8 finals, and finishing on position three was one of the biggest achievement.

“My boys need a rest, you have seen that their legs could no longer carry them, they are fatigued and in addition to that I had a lot of injuries, hence they could not execute themselves properly,”  he said. ENDS