Gaborone United (GU) are this season’s Mascom Top 8 champions following their 2-1 victory over traditional rivals, Township Rollers on Saturday.
GU are now the most successful side in the competition, having won it twice.
Both sides had won it once before Saturday’s clash. Rollers made few changes to the team that thrashed BMC a week ago.
Noah Maposa, Tshepo Motlhabankwe, Jerome Louis and Dirang Moloi made a return to the starting line up, relegating Mwampule Masule, Manqoba Ngwenya and Maano Ditshupo to the bench. GU on the other hand, also put Ntesang Simanyana on the bench while Matthews Nyamadzawo partnered Benson Shilongo upfront.
GU started the game as the better side with Alphonse Modisaotsile sticking on Rollers danger man, Segolame Boy.
They created several chances, but failed to capitalise on numerous occasions. Shilongo managed to sneak past Rollers defence, but shot wide early in the first half. Rollers on the other hand tried to search for openings, but found GU intact in the midfield. Motlhabankwe took a long range shot in the middle of the first half but his effort went slightly over the cross bar. GU coach, Rahman Gumbo, realising that Nyamadzawo was ineffective, removed him and introduced Simanyana.
The substitution paid off as Simanyana troubled Rollers with his pinpoint passes. Rollers managed to survive in the first half despite numerous attempts by GU.
Rollers were, however, the first to draw blood through speedy winger, Kobamelo Kebaikanye. He later made way for Jerome Ramatlhakwana. GU responded through former Rollers midfielder, Simanyana who came in as a substitute.
Both sides created chances, but it was GU that got their second goal through Shilongo.
Rollers defender, Oscar Ncenga was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box. Shilongo stepped forward and converted. Rollers made several substitutions to try and increase firepower, but found GU goalkeeper, Goitseone Phoko in fine form.
The line-ups:
GU: Goitseone Phoko, Gaopatwe Seosenyeng, Ofentse Nato, Edwin Olerile, Alphonse Modisaotsile, Thabiso Khunwane, Benson Shilongo, Matthews Nyamadzawo (Ntesang Simanyana), Mpho Kgaswane, Osego Gaotewe, Gosegonna Molapisi
Rollers: Maposa, Obonye Moswate, Motlhabankwe, Ncenga, Simisane Mathumo, Lawrence Majawa, Dirang Moloi (Maano Ditshupo), Sekhana Koko (Ngwenya), Kebaikanye (Ramatlhakwana), Louis, Segolame Boy
GU 2 (Simanyana 63rd, Shilongo 75th)
Rollers 1 (Kebaikanye 61st)
