The game comes just a week after the Ostriches ran riot over Rollers’ city rivals, Gaborone United (GU) routing them 4-2 in a game that threw the title race wide open. The victory over GU put them level on points with the defending champions and five behind log leaders, Jwaneng Galaxy. Mangwiro’s charges are yet to taste defeat this year and the last time they lost a match was on December 17 when they went 2-1 down to Sua Flamingoes. Tomorrow’s encounter against Rollers will now be played under floodlights. The kick-off for match was initially set for 3.30pm but has been moved to 7pm because of the unavailability of the facility in the afternoon.
The Ostriches will once again rely on its attacking power that includes Lemogang Maswena and Omaatla Kebatho. The latter in particular has taken this season by storm, scoring almost in every match and is the leading goal scorer with 15 goals. Rollers on the other hand are facing a difficult time both on and off the field. They sit in position four and have only won twice this year with six other matches ending in a stalemate. Rollers new gaffer, Daniel Moniz Traguil has tried to play around different systems and combinations but the results have remained the same. Their weaknesses have been upfront where they scored only 24 times this season. They recently signed former Zebras striker, Mbatshi Elias who is expected to face his former teammates tomorrow night. Both Orapa United and Rollers met three weeks ago at Itekeng Stadium in a game that ended 1-1. Kebatho had given the hosts a lead late in the second half but Rollers equalised in the last minute of the game through defender, Mosha Gaolaolwe. A loss for Rollers will all but rule them out of contention while Orapa United’s win will keep their first ever league title dream alive.
