17 Sep 2018

Early season BTC Premiership pacesetters, Sharps Shooting Stars, dropped points for the first time in the 2018-19 campaign after succumbing to a first half Tumisang Orebonye goal when losing to Township Rollers by a solitary goal at the National Stadium on September 15. 

Sharps entered the weekend topping the log having won their first three matches against Gaborone United, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Orapa United, and were far from disgraced in narrowly losing 1-0 to Rollers.

On paper, the Botswana Premier League had handed Sharps a nightmare fixture list.

But the Old Naledi outfit did not read the script and instead claimed the scalp of established giants in their first three matches and thus entered the National Stadium on the night of September 15 looking to deliver the head of another giant.

But on a cool Spring night, their dream start to the season reached a cul de sac.

In a fluid first half performance by Rollers, Mothusi ‘Mini’ Cooper, Maano Ditshupo and Kago Monyake linked well in the middle of the park with the coordination of a well synchronised symphony orchestra.

Cooper played in a 10th  minute free kick into the box, locating Gaolaolwe whose header went just over the Sharps goalposts.

Three minutes later Orebonye powered Rollers into the lead with a brilliantly taken effort; controlling well in the penalty area then slamming the ball past Sharps goal minder Bobby Mathe to make it 1-0 to Popa in the 13th minute.

Rollers defender, Mosha Gaolaolwe, was forced to cut out a Sharps attack as the Old Naledi side sought the equaliser.

Although Rollers had more of the ball in the opening half, Sharps stayed compact restricting the Blues to just a couple of chances; Mathe displaying great reflexes to deal with another Orebonye header in the 36th minute and on the stroke of half time Cooper had a sight of goal but shot just wide of the Sharps goal from the edge of the box.

Sharps grew in confidence in the second period of the match. Allen Ndodole was brought in for Tshepo Mbulawa as the Old Naledi side sought a way back into the contest.

Rollers left back Thatayaone “TT” Ditlhokwe on the overlap played in a good cross deep into the Sharps danger zone met by Segolame Boy whose header was fisted away for a corner kick by Mathe. 

On the other end, Sharps started visiting Rollers goalkeeper Wagarre “Waxy” Dikago’s posts and he had to be alert to save at the feet of a marauding Sharps attack.

Tshepo Malgas of Sharps then made his way into the Rollers box but shot wide of Dikago’s goal from close range.

Sharps were now able to play balls into the final third of the pitch having endured a subdued first half.

Rollers attacker Joel Mogorosi spurned two attempts to secure the tie with a more comfortable marging; first his close range header went wide, then after an individual effort of tearing into the box, Mogorosi could only shoot straight at Mathe.

At the death Dikago was forced into a reflex save, tipping the ball over the bar as Sharps nearly stole a point at the end. But it ended 1-0 to Rollers.

Sharps stay on nine points after three wins and a loss and are now second on the log with BDF XI having ascended to the top of the log with ten points. ENDS