Form or no form, giants collide
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday October 27, 2017 12:55
Rollers are yet to drop points this season while Chiefs have had one of the worst starts to a season.
However, Rollers have stated that tomorrow’s game is a totally different scenario where current form and statistics count for nothing.
“Chiefs are sleeping giants and the danger about sleeping giants is that you never know when they are going to wake up.
It could be this Saturday when we face them so we will be very cautious,” Rollers assistant coach, Thabo Motang told Mmegi Sport yesterday.
Motang said the Chiefs that will play Rollers is going to be a different side that played in the last two matches, as is normally the case when the two giants meet.
At around the same time last season, this fixture came at a time when Rollers were cruising while Chiefs were on a two-game losing streak. However, Chiefs rose from the ashes and left spectators with a shock after registering a 3-2 victory over their rivals with goals from Thatayaone Ramatlapeng, Dirang Moloi and Remington Masuku.
They then reverted back to their sleeping mode and lost three consecutive matches thereafter with issues of unpaid salaries cropping up several times. Masuku and Moloi have since left while Ramatlapeng has been used as second half substitute since the beginning of the season. Rollers have not lost a league match since then.
Both sides will miss two influential figures tomorrow in Joel Mogorosi and Lesego Galenamotlhale. Galenamotlhale has been a key figure for Chiefs, especially in such kind of games, bringing stability in the midfield.
Before his suspension, he had already proved he will be the most influential player for Magosi this season with a man-of-the-match performance against Extension Gunners.
Chiefs, however, have been boosted by the availability of Lawrence Majawa who made his official debut in the 3-1 defeat to Black Forest last Saturday. Majawa once again, is expected to sit in front of the defence while his midfield partner, Thato Ogopotse adds numbers in the attack. Against Black Forest, Majawa appeared rusty and needlessly lost possession. He played for Rollers for close to 10 years, winning five league titles in the process.
Mogorosi on the other hand will also be solely missed after starting the season on fire. Before his much talked about injury against Sharps Shooting Stars last weekend, Mogorosi had a 100% strike rate.
He had scored four goals in four matches and also nearly scored his fifth in 40 seconds against Sharps last Saturday.
However, he was taken off moments later with an injury, which is estimated to keep him out for about three months.
While Motang said they will miss Mogorosi’s influence, he also said they will try and come up with a plan to compensate for his absence. Since the arrival of coach, Nikola Kavazovic, Mogorosi has been used as a central striker. Rollers, however, still have Mthokozisi Msomi upfront while Jerome Ramatlhakwana has also recovered after picking up a knock during Zebras’ friendly against Namibia recently.
Chiefs general manager, Zaahid Jalal said the most important thing for his side is to forget about the two recent losses and focus on tomorrow’s game. He said the players are up for it and understand the magnitude of the clash.
On the absence of Galenamotlhale, Jalal said fortunately they have cover with Majawa now available for selection while Ogopotse and Nelson Moreetsi are also equally capable to fit into the central midfield role.
In other interesting fixtures, Gunners host Orapa United in Lobatse tomorrow while Jwaneng Galaxy will be away to high-riding Miscellaneous tonight in Serowe.
Orapa United have so far tasted two defeats and lost touch with log leaders. Galaxy also dropped some points, but bounced back last weekend.