Rollers snatch League tittle

Chippa Legodimo | Monday April 28, 2014 11:59

 

PALAPYE: Township Rollers are this year’s be Mobile Premier League champions after narrowly beating Miscellaneous 1-0 in Palapye on Saturday. Hordes of Rollers supporters who thronged the Palapye Swallows Ground watched a tense match that was decided by a sole strike by defender Obonye Moswate in the 24th minute.The former TAFIC stopper forced his boot between two defenders to score the opportunistic goal that sent the Serowe side spinning to First Division football.

Although Rollers failed to excite their supporters, they threatened as early as the third minute when Maano Ditshupo’s long range effort came off the cross bar.

Miscellaneous returned fire four minutes later after talented winger, Segolame Boy unleashed a beautiful free-kick which easily went past the Rollers defence, but not goalkeeper Mwampole Masule. A good interchange of passes between Rollers’ captain, Sekhana ‘Nandos’ Koko and Motsholetsi Sikele created an opportunity that forced a fantastic save from Ontiretse Gaotlhobogwe in Miscellaneous goal.

The Serowe side knew that they could save themselves from relegation if they beat Rollers and tried to launch a comeback with Boy powering another dangerous free-kick in the 42nd minute that easily eluded the Rollers defence only to be blocked by Masule again.

Masule proved a vital cog in Rollers title aspirations shortly after recess when he tipped over Boy’s fine shot.

The goalkeeper was finally beaten by a scorcher from his tormentor-in-chief, but the woodwork came to his rescue in the 64th minute. Four minutes earlier, Masule had been called upon to thwart Walter Nyakuchenya, who caught the Rollers’ defence off guard as it became clear the underdogs were gaining control of the match.

Rollers assistant coach, Teenage Mpote summed up the match as a tough affair moments after his charges were crowned champions. “Coming from that Gunners’ game (2-2 draw) the players were tense. It was the type of game in which mental strength would be decisive and we have a host of young players.

But we have done the business and I have to congratulate my boys,” he said.

Mpote said despite most players’ lack of experience, the team played well this season. He indicated that losing in the Mascom Top Eight might have come as a blessing in disguise. “We did not start the season well and lost in the Mascom Top Eight. But it was at that point that the team became more consistent.

I think it rang the alarm bells that we could end the season empty handed unless we perform more consistently. We have played 28 games without a loss and that is reflective of a champion chasing team,” the former Miscellaneous’ coach said.