04 Sep 2018

Premier league titans, Jwaneng Galaxy FC and Township Rollers failed to produce a goal during a high profile BTC Premiership fixture played at the Jwaneng Stadium on Saturday.

For all they were worth, BTC league title defending champions, Township Rollers, went out with guns blazing, concentrating their game on attack from the get go, as if oblivious of the ten goals their opponents had scored in their last two games but Galaxy goal minder Ezekiel Morake kept them at bay. He made about five clean saves in the first half to stop Segolame Boy, Joel Mogorosi, and Tumisang Orebonye who had obviously wanted to give their club an early goal and make life difficult for the home side.

Rollers boys could not quite execute the plan to attack, score and put the game out of Galaxy’s reach to perfection. Where skill and composure were required to turn the chances they had created into goals, they acted like a bull in a China shop.

Galaxy, also league title runners up, were on the other hand a bit slow on transitional play in the first half but picked up pace in the second half and started playing with more fluidity, creativity and invention, thanks to their talented addition, Lebogang Ditsile. Ditsile, armed with height, skill and poise won most of the midpark battles over Mothusi ‘mini’ Cooper and Maano Ditshupo and steadied the ship. Coach Miguel Da Costa also played Thero Setsile, winger of enormous pedigree on the left back where he exerted himself but often times stormed out with his trademark pace.

Although Rollers had no answer when Galaxy exchanged passes going forward the latter could not quite establish a clear supply line to Patrick Kaunda, as a result he seemed to fight a lone battle up front.

Towards the end of the second half Rollers had put more bodies on the line to defend the draw which had now seemed inevitable while Galaxy continued with more attempts at goal which fortunately not for them, went up in a cloud of smoke.

Meanwhile Rollers, coach Nicola Kavazovic said the club barred him from having media interviews this season. “It’s not my personal decision, sorry, it’s my club’s decision, they say I talk too much, “he said.

 Da Costa on the other hand, said a draw was a fair result for both teams. Asked why he played Setsile at the back, he said his idea was to create players who could do the job in any place on the field. He said his target was to defend the Mascom Top 8 cup and steer the club to a league title this season. ENDS