Can Rollers lift the title tonight?

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 27, 2010 00:00

 The game was supposed to be played on Saturday evening but was postponed due to a water-logged pitch. Tonight's kick-off is at 7pm.

Not even the cold wet weather, which has hit most parts of the country, will dampen the spirits of thousands of Mapalastina supporters who are expected to come to the match to celebrate the title win.

With third-placed Mochudi Centre Chiefs failing to win against Extension Gunners on Sunday, the title race might be over tonight. Already disadvantaged by an inferior goal difference, Chiefs can only finish on 68 points if they win their remaining matches. Victory tonight will give Rollers 68 points and the title on goal difference. Rollers have a healthy goal difference of plus 54 compared to Chiefs' 31, which realistically rules the Kgatleng giants out of the contest if Notwane falls tonight.

For Chiefs or second-placed Uniao Flamengo Santos to steal the title, Rollers will have to lose all their remaining matches, an unlikely situation given the pacesetters' form.

Rollers coach, Rahman Gumbo is no stranger to winning titles. He has won a hat-trick of league titles with Highlanders of Zimbabwe and MTL Wanderers of Malawi.

Winning the be MOBILE Premier League race will put him in a rare class of coaches who have lifted titles in three different countries. He will therefore come to the UB Stadium, aware that he is on the verge of writing another chapter in his and Rollers' life.

Rollers will be searching for their first title since a remarkable double under the late Banks Panene in 2005. But Notwane who have played well against top sides, would not want to be the team that gives Rollers the title.

Toronto have had a largely forgettable season in which they lost a number of seasoned players and found themselves fighting relegation. However, a decent midseason showing has seen Notwane all but secure their Premier League status. Notwane are a distant ninth, 39 points behind the log leaders.

But as Rollers' coach, Gumbo warned, derbies are difficult to predict and form does not count. While focus has been on Rollers, third-placed Chiefs lost ground in the title chase after dropping two points against Gunners. Chiefs' only hope lay in collecting maximum points to keep their faint hopes alive.

At the bottom, Killer Giants, Jwaneng Comets, Boteti Young Fighters and TAFIC have emerged as strong candidates for the drop. Killer Giants, promoted at the beginning of the season, anchor the log with 19 points. They failed to collect maximum points in a 0-0 draw against BDF XI.

Boteti did their survival chances a huge favour with a 1-0 win over Police XI, while TAFIC stole a point from Santos in a 0-0 stalemate. ECCO City Greens ran out the biggest winners of the weekend with a 6-0 thumping of Nico United in Francistown. (See log on Page 19)