Rollers in injury crisis as winless run stretches
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday April 29, 2024 16:28
The Blues are winless in four games and are without a win in the month of April. Morapedi has said the team is struggling to keep a fully fit squad since the start of the season and are currently having eight players struggling with injuries.
“It is another bad result but not the performance of players but you can count them how many players are carrying injuries? I am not trying to say we played to a draw because of injuries.
We played GU with eight injuries.
They came back and they are not fit and who could we replace them with? So you just play them for few minutes. It is very bad and some of these injuries can be cured. If they get the right treatment on time, they can heal. It means we will play the next game with these injuries, what can we do? Should we not come to the game?' Morapedi said after the Orapa draw.
The visitors nearly took the lead on the 11th minute but Thabang Mosige directed his header wide off the post. Popa took the lead on the 19th minute when Mbatshi Elias headed in Edwin Moalosi’ free-kick. Mosige came close once again for Orapa on the 34th minute but this time his headed effort hit the cross bar. Against the run of play, Marcell Papama laid a pass to Onkarabile Ratanang and the full back saw his effort tipped over the bar with two minutes to the break.
Stephen Sibanda tapped in Eric Ookame’s low cross inside the first minutes of the second half to level the matters. Tapiwa Sepatela did well on the right wing to beat his marker and set up Segolame Boy who was unmarked inside the box but his shot went wide off the post on the 74th minute. Three minutes later, Ratanang came close from inside the box but his effort also went wide. The two teams shared spoils on the evening.
The teams
Rollers: Bophelo Kealeboga, Simisane Mathumo, Thabo Babutsi, Onkarabile Ratanang, Thabo Wetshoemang (Mosha Gaolaolwe) Omphile Vissagie (Segolame Boy), Shaun Gcumeni (Obonwe Maome), Edwin Moalosi (Marcell Papama), Godfrey Tauyatswala, Mbatshi Elias (Mogakolodi Ngele)
Orapa United: Keeagile Kgosipula, Mpho Kgaswane, Ricky Ratlhogo, Thabang Mosige (IvanKamberipa), Atamelang Lesogo, Thato Kebue, Eric Ookame, Gape Thibedi (Tshepo Malgas), Kagisano Mungu (Koketso Majafi), Stephen Sibanda, Lemogang Maswena (Tinashe Balakasi) Cautions: Mosige, Gcumeni, Lesogo
Rollers 1 (Elias 19th) Orapa 1 (Sibanda 47th)