Rollers stretch winning streak
Fighters Rollers
T(Boy 24th, Morwalela 51st)
ownship Rollers registered their fifth consecutive win after beating Mogoditshane Fighters 2-1 in a Botswana Premier League match played under floodlights on Saturday at the National Stadium. Popa remain second and five points behind rivals Gaborone United as the second round of games begun over the weekend.
Kabelo Dambe was the first to deny Otlarongwa Nthumolang from a free-kick before Tshomarelo More on the other end put a two-hand save to Mosha Gaolaolwe’s headed effort. On the 17th minute, Ovella Ochieng delivered a pass to Bame Morwalela whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
The deadlock was broken on the 24th minute when Segolame Boy clinically slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Popa took dominance of the game as Fighters sat back. However Rollers could not produce clear cut chances in front of goal.
Three minutes before the break, Boy got close once again but More parried his attempt back into play before it was cleared for a corner kick. It was Boy’s solitary strike that made the difference at the break.
Six minutes into the second half, Morwalela nodded in Onkarabile Ratanang’s free-kick to double Rollers’ lead. From the goal, the game produced few chances until Mooketsi Gareonne on the 75th minute saw his effort go over the bar.
The game sprung into life on the referee’s additional minutes. On the first of the four minutes, Fighters were awarded a penalty but Ernest Tawazadza skied his kick. In the third of additional minutes, Othusegile Botsetswe caught Rollers napping and slotted past Kabelo Dambe to reduce the deficit by just a goal. It was little too late for Fighters as Rollers bagged the maximum points.
“I think we did a solid good hour of football where we played well. We were effective on and off ball and I think after that I saw a big drop from the players physically and it is understandable because of the pitch but that should not be an excuse.
I demand a lot from these players and hence why things like that could happen,” Rollers’ Romain Folz said. His counterpart, Thaloba Nthaga felt his side deserved something from the game after a spark in the final minutes.
The Teams: Fighters:
Tshomarelo More, Thamiso Gagoangwe (Kagiso Mokaeya), Thamelo Abueng, Fortune Oweditse Tuwelo, Samson Ramakoba, Mooketsi Gareonne, Ernest John Tawazadza, Othusegile Botsetswe, Tshepo Keselebale (Thuso Keraetswe), Kamalongosh Blessing Chidzero, Otarongwa Nthumolang (Golebaone Baopedi)
Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Motsholetsi Sikele, Onkarabile Ratanang, Simisani Mathumo, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Kutlwelo Mpolokang (Ofentse Nato), Phenyo Serameng (Maano Ditshupo), Ovella Ochieng, Segolame Boy (Lemponye Tshireletso), Tlhalefo Molebatsi (Brian Mankanku), Bame Morwalela (Mohammed Diallo)
Cautions: Gaolaolwe