Rollers' swift chance of revenge over Al Ahly
Staff Writer | Friday July 27, 2018 12:40
Rollers’ trips up north have not yielded the desired results with a heavy 4-1 defeat to Espérance de Tunis, before the shellacking at the hands of Al Ahly.
Popa have shipped seven goals in North Africa while finding the net only once. However, they will be encouraged going into tomorrow’s match, as they had been worthy opponents in Cairo, holding the fancied Egyptians for long periods.
They were undone by mistakes at the back, and will hope that the defence holds tight, after coach, Nikola Kavazovic made positional changes, with veteran Tshepo Motlhabankwe watching from the bench, while he persisted with Mosha Gaolaolwe in a holding role.
Tomorrow, Kavazovic will have to tinker with his line-up as he is without Gaolaolwe and Simisane Mathumo, both missing through suspension.However, the Serbian will have a full squad to pick from, with Ofentse Nato, who hobbled with an injury in the Cairo fixture, back training.
Rollers public relations officer, Bafana Pheto said they are ready for Al Ahly and urged Batswana to turn up in their numbers to support the team.“Preparations have gone on well and we have all our players ready, except Mosha and Simisane who are out through suspension. I urge Batswana to come and support us as we are representing the country, and with their backing, we can go far,” Pheto said.
Rollers are acutely aware of the significance of the fixture as a defeat might as well end their interest in the continental club competition.
However, a win will see the Gaborone side back in contention for one of the quarterfinal berths. Espérance top the group with seven points and play bottom Uganda side, Kampala City Council Authority in Kampala. Al Ahly are second with four points, and a Rollers win will send the Botswana side second and within touching distance of place in the quarter finals, with two rounds of matches to play.