Gaborone Derby to ignite Lobatse
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday May 19, 2023 11:52
Dark clouds have been gathering over the town in recent weeks following the relegation of Extension Gunners, leaving Lobatse without a Premier League team for at least a season.
Tomorrow, the biggest fixture in the league will set Botswana’s oldest town alight and the people in ‘Bandleng’ will savour these Premier League moments. The Blues and the Reds will not clash in Gaborone for a long while after the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) announced the National Stadium’s unavailability.
The Lobatse Sports Complex became an option as the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium was deemed too far. The tie is expected to produce sparks as the first-round game failed to produce a winner. Popa will feel they had one over Moyagoleele after they were denied by a last-minute Lebogang Ditsele goal in the first-round match played at the National Stadium. For Rollers, it is mostly pride while GU are in a late chase for the league championship. The Reds are yet to win the derby bragging rights since 2021.
It is historically a ‘no-man’s game' as the results have gone either way in the past few seasons. Rollers are enjoying a better form of late as they are unbeaten in five games while GU are on a two-game winning streak. It was an interesting time for both sides in the previous week, as both teams fielded fringe and young players. But for the derby, the two sets of technical benches are expected to have a full-strength starting line-up but Rollers’ Sergio Traguil has always pulled surprise selections.
The coach will, however, miss the tie as he serves a suspension after a dismissal in a recent cup game. A win for Rollers will keep their top four finish alive while GU are desperate to close down the five-point gap between them and leaders, Jwaneng Galaxy. As the local football giants clash at Lobatse Sports Complex, a potential league decider will be played at the Itekeng Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
Galaxy visit Orapa United needing three of the six points needed to clinch the title. United are a major threat to Galaxy’s title hopes with just three games to be played. The mining leaders will have a keen eye on the derby as a Rollers win will smoothen their run to the league championship. Meanwhile, Security Systems welcome Sua Flamingoes at the Lobatse Sports Complex today in a 7pm kick-off.
On Saturday, relegated, Mogoditshane Fighters will play for pride as they take on Nico United at the VTM Arena. BDF XI and Gunners meet at the Molepolole Sports Complex while Police XI will look to boost their top eight chances against Masitaoka at the Otse Stadium. On Sunday afternoon, Holy Ghost will look to move further away from the relegation zone as they face Morupule Wanderers at the Molepolole Sports Complex. At the Francistown Council Stadium, relegation hovers over Prisons XI as they visit Eleven Angels. The afternoon games will kick off at 3pm.