Grieving Rollers craft perfect response
Tumelo Mouwane | Friday May 12, 2017 11:50
Police XI were pushed into the relegation equation after the defeat at the Lobatse Sports Complex, while Rollers showed character after laying to rest their attacking midfielder, Gofaone Tiro over the weekend.
The Jungle Kings went into the Wednesday night encounter well prepared, but their strikers had left their scoring boots at home.
Mapalastina, however, bossed the second half, which saw leading scorer, Terrence Mandaza finding the net in the 50th-minute to take his season’s tally to 15, one ahead of Galaxy’s Thero Setsile.
Joel Mogorosi sealed Popa’s win, firing a low shot in the 64th-minute to move Popa to 56 points, just one behind Galaxy.
Rollers have a game in hand and play relegation threatened Nico United in Selebi-Phikwe tomorrow. Galaxy face Orapa United at the Itekeng Stadium on Tuesday as the league moves towards a photo finish.
In a post match interview, Rollers coach, Teenage Mpote admitted pressure, saying having games in hand does not guarantee points.
“The boys played like champions looking at how we played against BDF XI. We created a number of chances, but we couldn’t convert them.
We managed to score the goals, but sometimes the problem is pressure. We play the game under pressure because teams which are competing with us have points, but we have more games in hand.
The games we have in hand do not guarantee points hence the hurry to score more goals,” Mpote said. Winger, Lemponye Tshireletso said despite the pressure, they are hopeful they will win the title.
“It’s our desire to win the league. The only title left for now is the league title so we have to fight hard so that we leave the trophy in the closet at the end of the season,” he said.
Police XI coach, Isaiah Mogwadi said they face relegation and there is nothing he can do in four games.
“We are in the relegation battle. We have dropped to position 11. There is nothing that I can do to change the situation with just four games.
I thought these guys will let the guy who was there to finish his mess and I would take it from there next season, but it has happened; what can we do,”he said.