Rollers' progress presents Top 8 final dilemma
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday February 23, 2018 15:10
Rollers are scheduled to take on Orapa United in the final of the knockout competition on March 3, 2018.
However, with confusion still surrounding the actual dates for the first leg of the CAF competition, the Mascom Top 8 final, which was scheduled for March 3, might have to be switched.
The Top Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the knockout competition is still waiting for confirmation of dates from CAF before a final decision is made regarding the Top 8 final.
Rollers lost 2-1 away to Sudanese giants, Al Merriekh on Wednesday night but advanced with a 4-2 aggregate to the next round following their comfortable 3-0 win at the National Stadium 10 days ago.
They will take on Tanzanian side, Young Africans in the next round. LOC chairperson, Moreo Modisenyane yesterday said they have asked the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Competitions Committee to confirm with CAF before any decision could be made.
He said if the first leg of the CAF Champions League is played on the 10th as per one of the schedules, the Mascom Top 8 final date will proceed as usual on March 3.
He, however, said if the CAF competition is to be played on the sixth, then they might have to consider moving the date for the Top 8 final.
“It was going to be easy if Rollers were playing the first round at home. But the first round is away and we have to consider factors like travelling and time for some rest. Definitely if the dates are March 10, we should be able to continue with the final on March 3,” he said.
The LOC was scheduled to meet yesterday afternoon to further discuss the matter. One likely option is to play the final on Friday (March 2) to allow Rollers time to travel to Tanzania if the CAF fixture is on March 6.