23 Jul 2017

South African glamour club, Kaizer Chiefs left it late to snatch an equaliser in an international friendly against BTC premiership champions, Township Rollers at the Francistown Sports Complex on July 22.

The two teams played to a one all draw with goals from Segolame Boy and George Lebese.

The pre-season encounter was damp squib from the word go with the host showing glimpses of brilliance courtesy of Boy and Zambian striker, Shadrack Chinyama.

Chiefs, fielding a full strength squad including goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, Willard Katsande, George Lebese and Bernard Parker rarely troubled Keagile Kgosipula in Rollers goals.

They lost possession in the middle of the park and tried to build from the back through Teenage Hadebe, Katsande, Lorenzo Gordinho and Tshepo Masilela.

However, their attempts were thwarted by the Township Rollers defence.

Despite the two teams’ lackadaisical display, the first half belonged to the hosts as they continually raided the Chiefs defence in search of an early goal.

Both Edwin Moalosi and Boy had their attempts at goal thwarted by Khune. Midway through the first half, Katsande forced Kgosipula to parry his goal-bound attempt for the first corner of the game.

In the 32nd minute Boy took advantage of a defensive lapse by Kaizer Chiefs and rounded his man after receiving a pass from Ugandan striker, Ivan Ntege.

He weaved his body through the defence and unleashed a thunderbolt which Khune fumbled to handle helping it to the back of the net.

The goal added a little spark into the game as Rollers spectators went into a frenzy cheering every move from Mapalastina.

Ntege had an entertaining afternoon spraying passes and winning possession.

The diminutive midfield dynamo was a marvel to watch in the middle of the park as he controlled the Rollers midfield like a choir conductor of an orchestra.

His marking was top-notch and disrupted a lot of Chiefs’ positive moves. Chiefs defender, Gordinho was the first to be cautioned for a foul on Kaone Vanderwesthuizen.

Kaizer Chief top striker, Gustavo Paez was frustrated all the afternoon as the Rollers defense gave him little space to maneuver and ensured that he was isolated every time he had possession of the ball.

Township Rollers brought in Jerome Ramatlhakwana, Tshepo Matete, Tshepo Motlhabankwe and Joel Mogorosi to add more attacking flair in the second half while Chiefs introduced Syabonga Ngezana for Teenage Hadebe.

Rollers goalkeeper Kgosipula was cautioned for time wasting while Motsholetsi Sikele was given marching orders for a second bookable offence during added time.

During the post-match interview, Kaizer Chiefs coach, Steve Komphela explained that Rollers were very difficult to break as they sat back and waited for them to launch attacks.

He noted that his team had to resort to building from the back to unlock them.

He applauded Batswana for their hospitality and said there was a lot of talent in the country adding that unlike a week ago when they played Rollers in the Maize Cup, they seemed to have rectified their mistakes and gave them little room.

For his part, Rollers new coach, Nikola Kavazovic congratulated his boys for putting up a good fight despite conceding a goal in the 87th minute.

“We attacked hard and created chances and we should have scored three goals in the first half.

However, the boys lost concentration towards the end,” he opined.

In addition, Kavazovic mentioned that the team was yet to decide on which foreign players to sign amongst those on trial, but noted that they could not sign all of them.

He also observed that despite the short period of time he had spent with the team, his impression was that they now understood how he wanted them to play. ENDS