AFCON keeps Rollers waiting on new coach
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 1, 2023 12:56
Ndayiragije is, however, keeping Rollers waiting as the Burundi national team is on the verge of the 2023 AFCON qualification. The final round of the qualifier games will be played this month. Burundi takes on Cameroon at home on September 12 in a must-win tie. Mmegi Sport is informed that Ndayiragije is waiting to see if Burundi secures an AFCON berth before he can commit to Rollers. The tactician is said to have met Rollers’ officials earlier this month in Botswana.
During the visit, which did not last a week, Ndayiragije was introduced to the squad and toured the club’s training facilities at the Royal Aria Stadium. “The new coach was here not so long ago. He met the players and oversaw some of the training sessions. He seems to be impressed with how the club is run but the main issue has been Burundi could qualify for AFCON. Rollers management is worried that if Burundi qualifies, they might not be able to appoint him as the head coach. They believe that he may want to use the AFCON to sell himself to South Africa and other better leagues. But he was here and Rollers would have to wait until the conclusion of the AFCON qualifiers,” a source told Mmegi Sport.
This publication’s efforts to source a comment from Rollers hit a snag as at press time, the club’s public relations officer, Pako Lebanna had not responded to Mmegi Sport’s enquiries. There have been more developments in the Rollers technical team, as club legend, Joel Mogorosi has returned as the strikers’ coach and assistant team manager. The team’s performance analyst, Kenneth Dambe is said to be heading for the exit door while physical trainer, Tshepo Goitsemang left the team at the end of his contract in May.
Rollers will be part of a One Day Spectacular to be played at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on Saturday. Rollers take on Eleven Angels at noon in the second semi-final as TAFIC play Morupule Wanderers in an earlier kick-off at 10am. The final is to be played at 4pm while the losers' final is scheduled for 2pm. Tickets for the tournament are selling at P30. Popa also released their 2023-2024 home, away, and alternative kits this week.