30 Oct 2016

The Mascom Top 8 ‘Tse ditona’ quarter final first leg match saw Township Rollers trounce Police XI 1-0 via an Abdoulaye Ndaw header  on Friday at the Francistown Sports Complex.

The game, which started 30 minutes late due to many supporters still stranded outside the gate without tickets, saw Rollers coming into the game as the favorites to walk away with crucial away goals on the first leg.

Popa Popa, as the team is affectionately called, came into the game highly charged from their recent 2-1 thumping of Jwaneng Galaxy FC courtesy of their on-form striker, Terrence Mandaza.

When the first whistle blew, Rollers mounted early attacks from both wings, taking advantage of the shaky Police XI full backs.

Thato ‘Yellow’ Bolweleng made countless runs on the right wing to make scintillating crosses into the Jungle Kings goal areas but their efforts were immediately thwarted.

On the ninth minute, one of Bolweleng’s crosses found Mandaza, who tried slotting in a volley, but the shot went wide angle and outside the box.

Popa Popa’s trio of Mandaza, Joel ‘16’ Mogorosi and Segolame ‘Wonder’ Boy struggled to dismantle the sloppy Police XI defence marshaled by Sylvester Leririma, Dikgakgamatso Kesolofetse and Otsile Batang to secure an early goal.

Though Popa displayed solid defence tactics through the hardworking Simisane Mathumo deep into their defence park and Mosha Gaolaolwe, they often committed mistakes due to communication failure, but the hosts still failed to take advantage of such errors to secure an early goal.

The first 15 minutes of the game saw both teams making countless attacks and bringing the game into high tempo, but they both lost concentration and the game slowed a bit.

On the 26th minute, Police XI’s Ogomoditse Sitang dribbled and maneuvered past the napping Rollers defence but could not find enough room to hit an on-target shot at the seemingly bored Kabelo Dambe in Rollers posts, who spent the first half without a real threat.
Rollers spent the better part of the first half trying to coordinate their attacking strategies and Bolweleng dropped back to assist the defence, stopping his countless runs on the right wing and denying the Rollers strikers some much needed crosses from the right flank.
With  Bolweleng at the back, Simisane Mathumo had an endless freedom to make runs to lend a helping hand during attack.

On the 41st minute, Phenyo Molefe’s impressive attack, which saw him beating the Rollers defence and slotting in what could have been a heart breaking goal to the multitudes of Rollers supporters was ruled offside by referee, Omphile Phuthego.

The two teams went into the second half with a 0-0 score and the second half saw both sides coming back more determined to find the back of the net but failing.

Mandaza and Mogorosi’s endless attacks bore no fruit as they were denied scoring opportunities by the impressive Jungle Kings goalkeeper, Bokamoso Moeba, who walked away with the night’s Man of the Match award.

Sensing trouble, Rollers coach, Mark Harrison substituted Mandaza and introduced the lanky Senegalese striker Abdoulaye Ndaw.

He also pulled out Motsholetsi Sikele for Keoagile Kgosipula and then lastly replaced Boy with Edwin  Moalosi.

His changes paved way for more attacks and more ball possession but the Police XI goalkeeper was just too alert to let them have any attempt at goals, denying them scoring opportunities at every turn.

On the 69th minute, Police XI goalkeeper produced a double save from Mogorosi and Bolweleng to keep his team in the match.

Sensing pressure, Police XI’s coach, Maitumelo Letlaamoreng pulled out Molefe for Mokhuludi Dube, Letlhogonolo Senwelo for David Makakaba and also pulled out Sitang for Elphas Nyambi in order to minimise Rollers attacks.

On the 83th minute, Ndaw headed in a much needed strike from a Gofaone Tiro assist to give Rollers a lead and sending multitudes of their supporters into celebration.

In a post-match interview, Rollers gaffer Harrison said his team had a frustrating night in that they were not flowing enough and connecting well to find the back of the net.

Though he was happy of going into the second leg with a win, he however maintained that the solitary goal was not enough and that they were going back to the drawing board to devise a new winning strategy that will help them beat Police XI in the second round encounter.
On the other side, Police XI mentor, Maitumelo Letlaamoreng noted that he was happy with the way his boys played as they followed his plans.

He said he knew Rollers was going to be under pressure to secure an early goal, as early as the 15th minute, but they were able to break all their attempts.ENDS