Gaborone derby a damp squib

Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday February 21, 2014 15:26

 

The two rivals met on Wednesday night at the National Stadium in the second leg of the Mascom Top 8 with a lot a stake. Rollers went into the match leading 2-1 from the first leg.

As it was expected, GU took the game to Rollers right from the first whistle in search of an early goal. They did create many chances in the first half but failed to convert. By the time they scored in the middle of the first half, GU would have been up by about three goals but their usually reliable strikers; Tebogo Sembowa and Ronald Chikomo among others squandered the opportunities.

Rollers who had not played an official game in two weeks looked rusty and failed to click, losing possession way too easily. Midfielder Motsholetsi Sikele, who has been a key member in recent games, was not his usual self and lost too many balls.  GU’s speedy winger Mandla Mgadla, on the other hand, was also ineffective but they still managed to create openings on the left wing where Kgololo Kgogobi was operating.

The biggest chance of the first half before the goal fell to Sembowa when he found himself unmarked in the box. However, he lost the balance and the shot did not trouble Rollers’ goalkeeper, Mwampule Masule. GU finally found the back of the net towards the end of the first half when Kgogobi capitalised on Masule’s mistake. A long high ball was delivered into the Rollers box; Masule came out of his line but failed to gather. Kgogobi had an easy job tapping into an empty net. Just before halftime, Rollers also had two good chances as they slowly got back into the game but furled.

Rollers came out stronger in the second half and were rewarded when Namibian striker Jerome Louis equalised early on. He took his tally of goals to four and is current leading goalscorer in the competition.  Louis was substituted moments later because of an injury and South African striker, Manqoba Ngwenya, came in for him. Both sides continued to squander chances in the second half with Sembowa and Gofaone Tiro among the culprits.  Sembowa had the chance to send the match into extra time when he received a pass in the dying minutes of the second half but he ballooned the ball over the bar. Rollers will now meet BDF XI in the final billed for March 1 at the National Stadium. It will be BDF XI’s second successive final. They lost 2-1 to GU in the same competition last season.

Meanwhile, Mochudi Centre Chiefs will look to return to winning ways when they take on Notwane, as the beMOBILE Premier League continues this weekend. The two meet tomorrow at the National Stadium at 4:00 pm.

Chiefs suffered a setback in their title ambitions when they lost 2-1 to Nico United on Wednesday. Notwane, on the other hand, were hammered 3-0 in their last match against BDF XI last weekend.  In another big match this weekend, GU will take on Nico United at Molepolole Sports Complex on Sunday. It will be the second match for GU since caretaker coach George Mogopodi took charge of the team. The game also starts at 4:00 pm.