Resilient Popa roll over Matebele
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(Wetshoemang 54th)
LOBATSE: Under the drizzle, Township Rollers had to fight hard for a 1-0 win over BDF XI in a Botswana Premiership contest played at the Lobatse Sports Complex.
Rollers were in the first half reduced to 10 men as Ototeng Dintwa was sent off. The Blues had to battle for an hour of football with a man less to bag maximum points in a freezing afternoon.
It was a rather sluggish start to the tie from both teams, probably due to the soaky conditions. It took until the 19th minute for the chance at goal as Motsholetsi Sikele put a low cross for Terry Uiseb who hit the upright.
From the chance, Rollers showed some bit of confidence as they dominated much of the ball possession. From the free kick, Segolame Boy’s shot went straight into the keeper’s hands with Rollers’ second chance of the game as Matebele sat back.
On the half hour mark, Popa were reduced to a man less as Dintwa received his second caution for simulation inside the penalty area. Four minutes later, Onkarabile Ratanang’s free kick attempt was saved by the keeper. On the 38th minute Sikele hit the cross bar from just outside the box. The teams were tied 0-0 at half time.
Rollers were ahead just nine minutes into the second half as Thabo Wetshoemang nodded home to mark his debut with a goal.
The Blues showed impressive qualities in defense as the Army Boys struggled to breakthrough. Forward, Godfrey Tauyatswala proved to be BDF’s livewire on the afternoon but his attempts were easily thwarted by the Rollers’ defense. Two minutes into stoppage time, Rollers missed a chance to make it two as substitute Tlhalefo Molebatsi missed from close range.
“We played two games against them in the preseason and I think from those games we learnt a lot.
So, today what we did was we used whatever we had learned and put it into practice,” Thabo Motang of Rollers said. His counterpart, Letang Kgengwenyane is not pressing panic buttons despite his side collecting just a point from the opening three games and without scoring.
The Teams:
BDF: Obakeng Matlou, Pelontle Lerole, Onkabetse Serofo, Ronald Setshego, Kabo Ngongorego (Odirile Kanayo), Godiraone Modingwane, Tumisang Pule, Confidence Senwelo, Thabo Metlhayotlhe (Mbonisi Dube), Aobakwe Tshobo (Chicco Molefe), Godfrey Tauyatswala
Rollers: Kabelo Maphakela, Motsholetsi Sikele, Simisane Mathumo, Mosha Gaolalolwe, Onkarabile Ratanang, Thabo Wetshoemang, Phenyo Serameng, Ototeng Dintwa, Segolame Boy, Terry Uiseb (Tlhalefo Molebatsi), Morgan Gaseitsiwe (Shaun Gcumeni)
Cautions: Dintwa, Sikele
Dismissal: Dintwa