Rollers silence Gunners in queens charity cup

A brace by Kobamelo Kebaikanye in three minutes secured Township Rollers a 2-1 win over Extension Gunners in the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust charity match at the UB Stadium on Saturday. Kebaikanye struck in the third and sixth minute of the match to leave Gunners with a mountain to climb.

Maikano Maikano pulled one back for the Lobatse side early in the second half following an avalanche of missed chances against a relatively weaker Rollers side. For the tie, Rollers rested most first team players while Gunners started with their strongest line-up with the likes of goalkeeper Takudzwa Ndoro and skipper Monageng Thaele. It was however the Rollers youngsters who came to the party in the opening six minutes of the match and deservedly got the opening goal. A quick attacking move in the third minute caught Gunners defence in sixes and sevens and Kebaikanye easily slotted the ball past Ndoro. Still smarting from conceding an early goal, Gunners were caught cold three minutes later as Kebaikanye pounced again. Gunners slowly got their rhythm with their quick passing game, creating a number of goal scoring chances that went to waste. Thaele came face to with the Rollers' goalkeeper in the last minute of the opening half but shot wide when it seemed almost impossible to miss.

Gunners continued playing a more entertaining game in the second half, but finishing was their major Achilles Heel. Maikano would score a consolation goal 10 minutes before time but Rollers had already sealed the game by then. The charity match was a part of a series of events organised by the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to raise funds for charity works in Commonwealth nations. Rollers and Gunners were given P15,000 for playing the match. Before the game, there was a curtain raiser involving parliamentary staff and their counterparts from diplomatic missions in Botswana. Parliament won the match 2-0. Among those playing for Parliament were MPs, Fidelis Molao, Dikgang Makgalemele and Bagalatia Aaron. The chairperson of the trust and former Speaker, Patrick Balopi said the event went well despite a low turnout of supporters.

Editor's Comment
A call for collaboration in Botswana’s media landscape

This call is both timely and crucial, as it reflects a growing need for unity and collaboration amongst media bodies to address pressing issues facing the nation.The theme of this year’s Press Freedom Day, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,” resonates deeply with Batswana, particularly in light of the ongoing human and wildlife conflict. Botswana’s rich wildlife population is not only a national...

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