Township Rollers' head coach, Innocent Morapedi has sent a warning to his players following a 2-0 win over Masitaoka in the opening match of the 2023-2024 Botswana Premier League (BPL) season.
On Saturday afternoon, Rollers overcame their hoodoo side at the National Stadium, thanks to goals from Segolame Boy and veteran player, Edwin Moalosi. It is a perfect start for the record league champions on the back of a transfer window period that saw 10 senior team arrivals. Competition for starting places is high at the Royal Aria-based side. Morapedi told journalists at the end of the match that his team would be picked solely on performance. "We always say every player should adopt the attitude of a person staying in a rented house. You pay rent, you are going to stay longer in that house and the landlord would not bother you and if you pay late (then) you are going to be bothered," he said "What I mean is, you are going to keep the jersey as long as you are performing. It is a question of are you delivering? That is the essence. Rollers do not see you as a star. Our plan today was game tactics, not individuals. Yes, you can benefit from individuals (brilliance) but dominantly (it) should be the team set up," Morapedi added.
The team's marquee signing, Thabo Rakhale was in from the start alongside Godfrey Tauyatswala and Omphile Vissagie who made their Rollers' debuts. Obonwe Maome, Marcell Papama and Tshepo Matete were introduced from the bench while Letlhogonolo Chenjela could not make his first appearance from the bench. After a rather slower start, Rollers took the lead in the 14th minute. From inside the box, Shaun Gcumeni nodded for Segolame who took his chance first time and beat the keeper to the bottom corner.
Six minutes later, Tauyatswala half-volleyed his chance from inside the box but watched it as it sailed over the bar. In the 31st minute, Boy had his deflected shot parried for a corner before Rakhale forced a save from the keeper three minutes later. Popa took the 1-0 lead to the break, closing a very dominant first 45 minutes. Just four minutes into the second half, Rakhale's curling effort from range was finger tipped for a corner. Phenyo Serameng headed the set piece in to the keeper's hands. Substitute, Ambrosias Amseb had a go from a free-kick but it went over the goalposts in the 58th minute. Mogakolodi Ngele, who started from the bench, played a through ball for Rakhale but the keeper splendidly denied the latter.
Two chances followed for Masitaoka, Monty Enosa shot wide from inside the box before Olebogeng Ramotse missed the goal with a free-kick attempt. With seven minutes of regulation time left, Ngele had his free kick parried back to play but danger was eventually cleared. Edwin Moalosi combined well with Papama, the latter with a through ball and the veteran attacker finished with a well-taken goal in the 90th minute to ensure maximum points for Rollers. "It is just one game; it will not determine where are going finish. It is the lessons we pick from the game that would determine if we would get better or continue to lose," Masitaoka's Thaloba Nthaga said after a defeat on debut with the team.
The teams
Masitaoka: Tshomarelo More, Lesego Kebonang (Ambrosias Amseb), Obusitswe Gabathuse, Eric Tjizake, Oabona Mangope, Obakeng Senono (Obakeng Ramotlhwa), Olebogeng Ramotse, Botsile Sakana, Brian Mankanku (Tefo Galani), Rameez Dharsey (Lethabo Ogotseng), Moabi Phuthego (Monty Enosa)
Rollers: Kabelo Maphakela, Motsholetsi Sikele, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Simisane Mathumo, Onkarabile Ratanang (Tshepo Matete), Phenyo Serameng, Omphile Vissagie (Marcell Papama), Shaun Gcumeni (Mogakolodi Ngele), Segolame Boy, Thabo Rakhale (Obonwe Maome), Godfrey Tauyatswala (Edwin Moalosi) Cautions: More, Sakana, Gabadise, Sikele
Score:Masitaoka 0 Rollers 2 (Boy 14th, Moalosi 90th)
