Keeper collision steals the show in Rollers, BDF draw
Kabelo Boranabi | Wednesday November 19, 2025 06:02
Despite the nest bursting thrills, the moment still echoing louder than any of the goals is the contentious collision between Simisane Mathumo and BDF goalkeeper, Kagiso Matlou. It was the spark that shifted the pulse of the match and the one BDF coach Mogomotsi “Teenage” Mpote insists changed everything from which his troops should learn from. The match barely settled when BDF XI struck first. In the 24th minute, Boikobo Rannyena capitalised on a scramble from a corner, slotting home the opener as Rollers failed to clear their lines.
The goal gave army side a grip on the tempo, but Rollers kept nibbling for a way back. Then came the incident that twisted the dynamics of the tie.
Deep into first-half added time, Rollers swung in a corner. Matlou rose to collect but spilled the ball under pressure. Godfrey Tauyatswala, alert and ruthless, smashed in the equaliser.
BDF XI players immediately surrounded the referee, furious at what they believed was a clear foul on their goalkeeper. On the touchline, the BDF bench erupted, pointing at Mathumo, claiming the Rollers defender had impeded Matlou.
The goal stood. And the storm rolled into halftime at 1–1. An animated Mpote was cautioned for his antics on the bench as he queried the goal.
Rollers emerged from the tunnel looking more confident of the two sides, stretching BDF XI across the width of the pitch. But BDF, disciplined and compact, adopted a low block that clogged up the final third and frustrated the Blues.
Still, Popa persisted and thought they had completed the turnaround. In the 87th minute, Tauyatswala, who had come off the bench with purpose, rose superbly to meet a Lemogang Maswena cross, planting a brilliant header past Matlou for what looked like the winner.
But BDF XI refused to stay down. Two minutes later, Ronald Setshego ghosted in from the blind side during a corner and lashed a half-volley into the net to snatch a share of the spoils.
After the match, Mpote did not hold back his frustrations over the first Rollers goal the Mathumo-Matlou collision he believes should have been whistled.
“It goes both ways,” he said. “I always tell my players that they would sometimes not be protected (by the referees), but if you sacrifice and attempt to clear it maybe we could have saved that goal,” he added.
“But also the referee should have protected the keeper. Because Simi came from nowhere on the goalkeeper. I would have hoped the linesman would have seen it and the referee was not too far from the incident, they were both there to protect the keeper,' said Mpote.
In the end, the match had goals, drama, tempers, and late twists but the evening may be remembered most for that one moment in stoppage time that set the tone for everything that followed.
The teams:
Rollers: Karamelo Kgosipula, Lemogang Maswena, Simisane Mathumo, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Onkarabile Ratanang, Mothusi Cooper, Marcel Papama, Omphile Vissagie (Thero Bubi), Thatayaone Ramatlapeng (Godfrey Tauyatswala), Thapelo Balatlheng, Kago Sesinyi (Botshelo Mangena)
BDF XI: Kagiso Matlou, Pelontle Lerole, Molosiwa Molosiwa, Phillimon Ncube, Ronald Setshego, Confidence Senwelo, Ronnie Kwarare, Norris Mwamba (Tshepang Kelebogile), Godiraone Modingwane, Tumisang Pule (Tapiwa Nyamanjiva), Boikobo Rannyena