Ostriches Instant Millionaires After Rollers Romp
Koketso Kgoboge | Monday April 25, 2016 14:02
The game’s first meaningful attack came from Rollers in the 6th minute. Joel Mogorosi escaped Olekantse Mambo’s guard on the right side and into the box, laid a cross, but the alert captain, Thabang Mosige cleared for a corner.
With a quarter of the half gone, Orapa had a good spell but could not make the most of it. Jerome Ramatlhakwane came inches close in the 41st minute. Jerome physically brushed aside Mosige into the box and his outside of the foot shot canoed off the upright in what became the only threat the entire first half.
The Ostriches had a half chance from the recess. Patrick Motsepe posted a free kick to the far side where Lemogang Maswena cushioned it into the 16-yard area, but Kabelo Dambe was alert to the challenge. Rollers had two shooting chances afterwards through Mogorosi and Kobamelo Kebaikanye whose shots went over the bar. Rollers sprung a surprise attack in the 64th minute and reaped rewards. Kebaikanye collected a long pass from Galabgwe Moyana inside the 18-yard box on the right and laid a delicate pass across the penalty area and Segolame Boy buried home to break the deadlock.
Eight minutes later the usual suspect, Ronald Chikomo levelled matters in style. Dambe’s poor cutting of crosses was exposed when he failed to clear a Kealeboga Molebatsi’s cross and Chikomo took advantage at the far end with a bicycle kick into an empty net. His goal put his hands firmly on the yellow boot and a contender for the player of the tournament. However, Popa sent shivers down the spines of the Ostriches faithfulls in the dying minutes with substitute Terrence Mandaza directing his free header from a Tshepo Motlhabankwe cross into Mosimanegape Robert’s gloves. Twelve minutes into extra time, Orapa’s league leading goal scorer, Thabang Sesinyi made his mark. Following a scuffle in the Popa box, the Palapye-born striker blasted the roof of the net to send the Orange nation wild.
Three minutes later it was 3-1. Onkabetse Makgantai produced a superb finish. Sesinyi picked Makgantai with a cross field pass and the latter caught Dambe off the line from 35 yards to bury the match.
From then, Rollers lived dangerously as they attempted a go at the Ostriches but the writing was already on the wall. Orapa United’s coach, Madinda Ndlovu was lost for words. “It was long overdue. It had to come this side. My boys were remarkable and they deserve it; we deserve it,” said an elated Ndlovu.
His Township counterpart, Mark Harrison obviously disappointed, said schoolboy mistakes gave the cup away. “I don’t want to finger point, but two serious defensive errors cost us the game and the cup. We matched them but they were just too good for us,” he said.
Line-ups:
Orapa: Mosimanegape Robert, Kealeboga Molebatsi, Patrick Motsepe, Lesenya Ramoraka, Thabang Mosige, Olekantse Mambo, Mgcini Sibanda, Bonolo Fraiser, Patrick Lenyeletse (Thabang Sesinyi), Lemogang Maswena (Onkabetse Makgantai), Ronald Chikomo (Baboloki Makhura)
Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Tshepo Motlhabankwe, Mogogi Gabonamong, Simisani Mathumo, Galabgwe Moyana, Lawrence Majawa, Maano Ditshupo, Segolame
Boy, Kobamelo Kebaikanye (Sekhana Koko), Jerome Ramatlhakwane (Terrence Mandaza), Joel Mogorosi
Cautions: Gabonamong, Motsepe, Chikomo