23 Feb 2026

Historic FNB Premiership giants Extension Gunners battle to stay within the elite league suffered another blow on Friday night, as Mapantsula succumbed to a 2-1 loss to fellow crowd pullers, Township Rollers.

In an enthralling contest played under the GU Stadium floodlights, Gunners utilised a low block and counter attacking transition play to endure a dominant first half display by Rollers. Popa deployed an overload on the right attacking channel where most of their forward movement were launched.

The high-octane contest burst into life early, with Gunners goalkeeper Kamogelo Mogomotsi producing a fine save to deny Kago Monyake’s well-struck free kick in the 10^th minute before pulling off another brilliant stop to keep out Tlotlo Kgaolo’s thunderbolt ten minutes later.

Eight minutes later, former Gunners star Omphile Vissagie played in a pin point delivery to locate overlapping Popa full back Lemogang Maswena whose strike hit the upright. Gunners were rewarded for their patience in absorbing the pressure and broke the deadlock, taking a 1-0 lead as their forward Thabiso Boti’s effort went in through Rollers defender Bapaletswe Simon the 41^st minute.

The advantage lasted barely a minute, however, as the Blues responded immediately, with Monyake restoring parity to send the sides into the break level at 1–1.

After the break, Popa continued exerting pressure and profited through Thatayaone ‘Popo’ Ramatlapeng just five minutes into the second half. Ramatlapeng let fly a thunderbolt from distance that ricochet off the upright into the net to send the Popa faithful into rupture of joy.

At 2-1, the game became more of an absorbing contest as Gunners chased the game and were forced to push numbers forward, while Rollers sought to prise open any attacking space on the other end. Mapantsula replaced Kabelo Kebaitse with Thabo Wetshoemang who partnered with Michael Pillar and Tiroyaone Maome as the midfield trio for the Peleng Glamour Boys.

Wetshoemang tracked back to assist the Gunners’ rearguard deal the Rollers right wing overload. The changes only slightly improved Gunners play as Rollers continued to have the upper hand on the night.

At the final whistle, Rollers secured three crucial points to climb to sixth place on the log, while Gunners remained rooted to the bottom after 20 matches. BOPA