Rollers, Police share spoils
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday November 7, 2022 13:47
The two teams dropped points for the first time in the campaign after winning their opening games in the previous weekend. It was rather a slow start into the game as both sides struggled to connect passes into the final third. Rollers, however, enjoyed a slight advantage with the ball possession but failed to make it worthwhile early on.
The Jungle Kings took the lead against the run of play on the 21st minute. Forward, Pako Gaofose rose highest to beat the goalkeeper with a brilliant headed effort from a corner kick. Popa tried to stage a comeback with the opposition sitting back. Three minutes to time, Mogakolodi Ngele came close for Rollers as his deflected free kick attempt missed the goal by some inches. Police XI held a 1-0 lead into the break. Rollers made two substitutions at half time, Shaun Gcumeni and Ototeng Dintwa replaced Lebopo Moremi and Marc Aron Dion respectively. The two changes sparked some life into the Rollers attack. On the 52nd minute, Gcumeni was on the end of a good move by the team but his shot was wide off the post. Gcumeni turned provider for the Rollers’ equaliser on the 71st minute. The midfielder danced through the Police XI defence inside the penalty area and laid to Segolame Boy who tucked in from close range with an army of opposition defence surrounding. Five minutes later, substitute Tlhalefo Molebatsi thought he had given Rollers the lead but his chance was cleared on the goal line with the goalkeeper beaten.
On the 85th minute, the goalkeeper spilled the ball from a corner kick. However Dintwa saw his effort blocked by the defence from close range. The Jungle Kings managed to survive the late onslaught by Rollers and bagged a point on the evening. Police XI’ s coach Maitumelo ‘Junior’ Letlamoreng was happy with the point and said his game plan was to thwart Rollers attack. “It was a tough game as we expected, fair results. We played well in the first half and in the second, Rollers was a bit stronger. Our game plan worked very well; that we should wait for them in the centre line because they are dangerous. We needed to avoid silly fouls because they are dangerous on set pieces,” he said.
His opposite number, Thabo Motang of Rollers was not a happy man as he felt his side was unlucky on the evening. “When it is not your day is not your day. If you look at it we did everything that was needed but the only thing left was to put the ball behind the net. Police had only one chance. We had slept a bit and they used it. But since then we were all over them; it was just not our day,” Motang said.
The Teams:
Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Motsholetsi Sikele (Jackson Lesole), Simisane Mathumo, Onkarabile Ratanang, Lebopo Moremi (Shaun Gcumeni), Phenyo Serameng, Segolame Boy (Morgan Gaisitswe), Marc Aron Dion (Ototeng Dintwa), Mogakolodi Ngele (Tlhalefo Molebatsi), Terry Uiseb
Police XI: Lesego Bosekeng, Betsho Pius, Botshelo Mangena, Letsweletse Leririma, Tonderai Nyakuba, Chicco Molefe,Thabiso Boti, Hendrick Moyo, Larona Modisaemang, Pako Gaofose, Ogomoditse Sitang (Katlego Masole)