Rollers Retain Title
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday May 22, 2017 14:36
The result handed Rollers their second successive league title. On the pitch, Rollers were given an early free-kick in the seventh minute after Lemponye Tshireletso was brought down in front of the box but Michael James came with a splendid save to deny Segolame Boy.
In the 11th minute, Tonderai Nyakuba tried Kabelo Dambe from long range but the keeper calmly collected. At the end of a flowing counter, Terrence Mandaza put a teasing cross in the box, but Boy skied his effort from an overhead kick. Popa broke the deadlock in the 29th minute. Simisani Mathumo rose high to head home Boy’s cross.
The Blues doubled their lead with five minutes to the break. Joel Mogorosi flicked for Maano Ditshupo with a header and the skipper beat James to the near post with low shot to give Rollers a firm grip on the title. Rollers took a two-goal lead to the break.
James was forced into a double save six minutes in to the second half. He showed good reflexes to deny Mandaza from a header before saving Ditshupo’s long-range shot.
With Rollers piling more pressure on Forest defence, James showed butter fingers as he failed to deal with Sikele’s cross. The ball fell into Mathumo’s path who tried an overhead kick but his effort was blocked off the line. With a win in sight, Rollers eased the tempo while Magoleng failed to break a resilient Rollers defence.
“I am very happy, we have achieved what we have wanted. We will now play Galaxy with no pressure next week with three points in sight. I did not know Forest in our first round fixture, but today I knew what to expect from them.
We wanted to cut their source of supply. We defended their forward pass very well,” Rollers coach, Mogomotsi Mpote said after the game. For his part, Forest coach Rapelang Tsatsilebe said he was impressed with his team’s performance but rued missed chances. “I’m impressed. We played well. They used their chances very well.
We should have scored one or two goals. Playing a team like Rollers and losing by two goals shows we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
The teams:
Forest: Michael James, Goabaone Mogorosi, Tonderai Nyakuba, Mosimanyana Letsholo, Kennedy Taukobong, Koketso Majafi, Mogomotsi Kerebotswe (Lynoth Chikowa), Tiro Pheresi, Gofaone Mabaya (Thomas Modiradilo), Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Wellington Maposa
Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Tshepo Motlhabankwe (Thato Bolelweng), Simisane Mathumo, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Edwin Olerile, Lawrence Majawa, Maano Ditshupo, Segolame Boy, Joel Mogorosi (Motsholetsi Sikele), Lemponye Tshireletso, Terrence Mandaza (Kekaetswe Moloi)
Forest 0
Rollers 2 (Mathumo 29th, Ditshupo 40th)