Contrasting tale as Rollers emphasise gulf in class
Mqondisi Dube | Friday September 9, 2016 14:24
Township Rollers’ grand arrival could be easily mistaken for match day in the more wealthier ABSA Premiership in South Africa rather than in the more modest beMOBILE Premiership.
In fact, Rollers have spent much of their pre-season in South Africa, while their counterparts had to make do with low key friendly matches even against second and third tier sides on uneven, dusty surfaces.
For instance, Police XI, preparing to compete against Rollers in the same league in just under a month, were in some dusty ground in Tlokweng over the weekend while Popa drove to some lush green pitches in South Africa.
Rollers boast a dozen of sponsors while just across town, rivals are battling to make ends meet. Other clubs like Nico United and Sankoyo Bush Bucks are part of a ‘struggling club’ failing to even shell dues, while Rollers are cruising in a brand new bus, can afford to import a British coach and pay handsome salaries.
It is such opulence that has left their rivals drooling. Rollers have always been widely regarded as Botswana’s glamour club. But they appeared to fall from grace with a surprise slip to the First Division in 2004, when Nico’s Leagile ‘Ziza’ Mogwera double shoved Popa to an unexpected low.
But memories of that dismissal showing having been emphatically banished as Rollers has managed to reclaim, on and off the field, their status.
In 2008, the Botswana Premier League, drew up a blueprint, The Bosele Declaration, meant to steer football towards a professional set-up and Rollers symbolise that shift in an environment that has often proved financially unforgiving.
Rollers have managed to keep their heads above water largely due to the arrival of business mogul, Jagdish Shah who has introduced a sweeping revolution at Popa and set a trend in local soccer.
The Big Four; Rollers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Extension Gunners and Gaborone United, are engulfed in raging internal wars, but still the Blues emerged with their integrity intact.
Elsewhere the fights have spilled on to the pitch and halted progress with Chiefs, who have emerged as Rollers’ bête noire in recent times, feeling the harshest pinch after failing to hold on to star players in the off-season. Chiefs were left ‘investor-less’ after Saeyd Jamali dumped the club while two factions are battling for the control of the Kgatleng giants.
Faced with such menacing threats, Chiefs’ centre is failing to hold. On the blue side, Rollers have been the epitome of resilience.
Rollers have faced a damaging internal strife, which threatened to derail their commercialisation path. But instead, amid the raging waves, Rollers have been able to walk above their challenges.
Shah has been unrelenting, sticking to the club despite every effort to challenge his legitimacy. His patience was tested when one faction at the club openly put up a ‘go away’ sign.
He has endured, spending millions on the club since Rollers’ respected son, Sommerset Gobuiwang asked the wealthy businessman to come on board in 2012.
Coach, Mark Harrison has been left purring.
“The club is very organised on and off the field. We have a great management, and Shah has been fantastic.
We have a good squad and technical, we are compact,” Harrison said.
He admitted that the quality and seamless preparations put pressure on him as a coach to deliver.
Harrison has coached in the more resourced ABSA Premiership and knows Rollers compares favourably with most teams across the border.
Rollers’ elaborate pre-season preparations, which have taken them to South Africa and Lesotho, contrast sharply with the abject state of the local league.