Top 8 final divides Gaborone city
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday April 17, 2015 15:01
Kick off is at 8pm. Both teams seem to have lost their pursuit of the league title and tomorrow’s clash is the last competition for either side to rescue their season.
The game is expected to thrill considering the past encounters between the two sides in the same competition.
Since its inception three seasons ago, Rollers and GU have met in all the Mascom Top 8 editions. In the first three editions, they met in the semi finals. This time, however, they go head to head in the final of the competition.
In the first semi final between the two, Rollers emerged 3-2 victorious on aggregate, having won 2-1 in the first leg before the two sides played to a 1-1 draw in the second leg.
Rollers went on to win the cup that season. The following season, both GU and Rollers met again in the semi finals where GU crashed their traditional rivals 4-1 in the first leg.
The 2-2 draw in the second leg was not enough for Rollers as GU progressed to the final where they met BDF XI and proceeded to win the competition.
Last season, they met again in the semi finals and Rollers booted out GU with a 3-2 aggregate. The two sides had played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg before Rollers won 2-1 in the second leg.
Rollers went onto lose the in final against BDF XI, in a game that was decided by a penalty shootout.
Rollers this week travelled to Jwaneng for a week-long training camp ahead of the big clash. They had just routed BMC 5-1 in their league game.
GU played to an exciting 2-2 with giants, BDF XI. Both sides have enough depth in their squads, giving coaches healthy selection headache.
The presence of Ofentse Nato in the middle of the park would give GU the much needed boost in a quest to neutralise Rollers’ duo of Lawrence Majawa and Maano Ditshupo.
Nato is expected to partner Alphonse Modisaotsile while Mandla Mgadla and Kgololo Kgogobi will operate from the wings.
Against BMC last weekend, Rollers decided to put Dirang Moloi, Jerome Ramatlhakwana and Jerome Louis on the bench.
It remains to be seen how the coach, Madinda Ndlovu will pick his starting line up this weekend after sterling performances by Manqoba Ngwenya and Thato Bolweleng last weekend.
The two players have not been regulars this season.
Probable line-ups:
Rollers: Noah Maposa, Obonye Moswate, Bolweleng, Mathumo, Tshepo Motlhabankwe, Majawa, Sekhana Koko, Ditshupo, Ramatlhakwana, Segolame Boy, Kobamelo Kebaikanye
GU: Goitseone Phoko, Obonwe Gaotewe, Edwin Olerile, Gaopatwe Seosenyeng, Thabiso Khunwane, Nato, Mgadla, Alphonse Modisaotsile, Benson Shilongo, Ntesang Simanyana, Kgololo Kgogobi.