02 Mar 2020

Gaborone United held on to a 2-1 victory against traditional rivals Township Rollers on Sunday afternoon.

Vice president Slumber Tsogwane was among  multitudes of football fans who attended the derby at the National Stadium.

Moyagoleele, as GU is fondly called by its legion of fans, grabbed back to back wins over their city foes after overcoming Mapalastina 3-0 last December at their own backyard.

The victory, which handed interim coach Pontsho Moloi his fifth straight win since he took over the reins, also ignited hopes of league honours for the rejuvenated Moyagoleele.

With 10 games left to play, GU are lying on the fifth spot of the league log three points shy off the top four bracket and trailing log leaders Jwaneng Galaxy by five points.

Rollers on the other hand dropped three priceless points and were lucky to have remained on the second spot as Orapa United and Security Systems, who are breathing heavily on their necks, lost all their matches over the weekend.

Systems were shocked by the beleaguered Lobatse giants, Extension Gunners 1-3 while Orapa were pinched by Notwane by a single goal.

When the Gaborone derby kicked off on a cool Sunday afternoon it was the visitors who made the strongest start, controlling play and landing the first real chance towards goal.

Enterprising left back, Onkarabile Ratanang curled in one of his trademark free-kicks which troubled Goitseone Phoko in the last line of GU’s defence.

Towards the 11^th minute momentum shifted as Thatayaone Kgamanyane, left with acres of space, drilled a low shot to the upper right to the oncoming Tshepo Maikano to connect a cross that was cleverly met by Kekaetswe Moloi mid-air to break the ice.

As the second half wore out Arnold Mampori struggled to deal with Kgamanyane just inside the box.

After twisting and turning inside the danger area Mampori illegally stopped Kgamanyane on his tracks and referee Moemedi Tlhabologang pointed to the spot. Kgamanyane dusted himself up and extended the lead.

The influential attacker was returning from suspension after missing his team’s last Orange FA cup victory over Black Forest.

There was no real penetration as the second stanza grew to a close, and it was sweet victory for Moloi’s charges who held on to the hard fought victory.

Rollers missed key players in Ofentse Nato and Simisani Mathumo who were injured while influential midfielders Mothusi Cooper and Ivan Mbowa were on suspension. ENDs