My pre-season is over - Rollers coach

Kabelo Boranabi | Monday February 6, 2023 16:55

Rollers on Saturday afternoon beat lowly-placed Holy Ghost 2-0 in a Botswana Premier League game played at the National Stadium. This was Rollers’ second win since the arrival of Traguil.

The team has seen three consecutive draws with the Portuguese gaffer on the bench and Traguil can take a sigh of relief. Speaking to journalists after the game, Traguil said he has finished his ‘pre-season’ with the team but called for consistency in front of goals. “It was another kind of football, another kind of intensity so I have just finished my preseason now.

I think you guys saw it in the first half we played wonderful football. We need to be more consistent and take the chances that we create. Because if we don’t take our chances the other team starts to get confident and they start to believe,” he said. Rollers had taken charge of the tie from the first minute enjoying much of the ball possession.

Popa came close to taking the lead on the 10th minute but Segolame Boy hit the cross bar with his attempt. Two minutes later, Rollers got their goal as Phenyo Serameng nodded in Onkarabile Ratanang’s corner kick. From the goal it was an all Rollers’ attack but the team was let down by some poor finishing. Boy on the 27th minute pulled a brilliant save from Katlego Mbise with his low driven shot. On the 43rd minute, Denver Meyer from just inside the box shot straight in to Mbise’s hands.

On the brink of half time, Kgakgamatso Ramatshosa shot over the bar from a smartly taken corner kick routine as Popa took 1-0 lead into the break. Holy Ghost were the first to pose threats in the second half as four minutes in, Onalenna Obopile’s free kick went just over the bar. Popa regained their dominance of the match and on the hour mark, substitute, Morgan Gaseitsiwe squandered a glorious chance to double his team’s lead. The striker’s run met Boy’s inch perfect through ball but with only the goalkeeper to beat, Gaseitsiwe shot wide off the post.

Mogakolodi Ngele nearly caught the goalkeeper off guard with a right foot effort but it was parried away for a corner on the 68th minute. Popa squandered yet another chance as Ngele and Boy combined but the latter shot into the keeper’s hands. Patrick Kaunda nearly secured a draw for his side but his deflected shot sailed just over the bar. Popa made it 2-0 in the last minutes of the game as Ngele beat the advancing keeper and slotted home from the tightest of angles.

The Teams: Rollers: Kabelo Maphakela, Denver Meyer (Jackson Lesole), Simisane Mathumo, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Onkarabile Ratanang, Shaun Gcumeni, Phenyo Serameng, Edwin Moalosi (Mogakolodi Ngele), Ototeng Dintwa (Tlhalefo Molebatsi), Segolame Boy (Phillip Kaku), Bame Morwalela (Morgan Gaseitsiwe) Holy Ghost: Katlego Mbise, Oabile Makopo, Kgakgamtso Ramatshosa, Onalenna Obopile, Mmoloki Kebalepile, Phadza Chose (Kgomotso Kgopegang), Ofentse Chitutu (Michael Pillar), Emmanuel Sekwena, Alphious Kgopa (Godknows Mutina), Msani Thupa (Abang Molobe), Patrick Kaunda Caution: Ratanang

Rollers 2 (Serameng 12th, Ngele 90+2) Holy Ghost 0