23 Mar 2014

Rolling Boys maintained their chase for promotion to the premier league with a 1-0 win over Mogoditshane Fighters in the Debswana First Division south league match played on Saturday, March 22.

Striker Orapeleng Nkwe headed in a 12th minute goal from a corner kick to secure maximum points during the encounter at the SSG Ground in Gaborone. However, Wire Kaelo’s men were forced to hold anxiously for the last 27 minutes with 10 men after Nkwe was sent off for simulation.

The victory increased third placed Rolling Boys’ points tally to 33 and enabled them to cut the gap between them and second placed Black Forest to a single point with three matches left. However, they still trail log leaders Letlapeng by four points after the Ramotswa club won 2-1 against Jwaneng Comets.

The hotly contested match got off to a frentic start with Fighters midfielder, Abednico Powell testing goalkeeper Mmoloki Sedimo with a blistering shot in the third minute. The goalkeeper spilled the ball inside the six yard box, but Malebogo Ntebogang lobbed his follow up attempt wide.

Rolling Boys responded by applying their own pressure and Madala squared for Mogomotsi Keabaitse in a good position, but ballooned over the poles. Their pressure bore fruit in the 12th minute when Nkwe headed home Keabaitse’s well taken corner kick to give Boys an early lead.

The hosts came close to doubling their lead on two occasions in the first half but Madala was denied by goalkeeper, Onneetse Ditshupo, while skipper Mogami Mogami’s scorcher missed the target. Sedimo saved Daniel Mogapi’s effort on the goal line 10 minutes before half-time to deny Fighters an equaliser.

While the first half was a good spectacle, tempers flared in the second period after the referee wrongly dismissed Nkwe when the striker was head butted by Fighters defender, Ishmael Netty.

None of the officials picked the off the ball incident which occurred near the Fighters goal line, but the referee rather surprisingly gave the grounded Nkwe a second yellow card for simulation.

Fighters pressed hard in an attempt to use their numerical advantage, but the Rolling Boys defence held on for victory. Kaelo said in a post-match interview that he was happy for his team to have won against a good team like Fighters.

“We knew they are a ball playing side with plenty of experience. We were aware of their strength and we planned well. We knew it was going to be a difficult game. To win one nil without having much of the ball, I am happy,” said he coach. Though unhappy with Nkwe’s red card, the coach refused to comment on the incident.

“You see this is my second week talking about the referees. I don’t want to go much into it because I don’t want to be seen like I am a crybaby,” he said. Fighters coach, Mpho Mabogo on the other hand blamed their defeat on his players’ failure to utilise their scoring opportunities.

“We implemented our plan well but we conceded the goal because of our mistake. We also failed to convert our chances and that is why we lost,” he said. Meanwhile, Black Peril bolstered their fight against relegation with a 1-0 victory over Black Forest, while Mochudi Buffaloes beat Killer Giants 1-0. Bottom club Masitaoka had their problems compounded by a 1-0 loss to Ghanzi Terrors. ENDS