Rollers' silverware hopes suffer huge dent

Larona Makhaiza | Monday May 6, 2024 16:00

The loss comes as a double whammy for Rollers, who have already lost ground for the league title. Jwaneng Galaxy have opened a 10-point lead with only seven games remaining. Rollers’ head coach, Innocent Morapedi, was left dismayed thinking of how the season can end for him considering the goal scoring opportunities his front-men missed. “We played well but our effort was not enough,' Morapedi said. He also said they committed some errors that were not necessary including the penalty. “There was no way that you can deny that was a penalty. If you miss, we won’t win games, and mind you, people just get two good chances and they score. We struggle to score. So, we will try next season. The league title is far away from us and the chance of a cup are buried,” he said.

The two teams came to the party playing an end to end match. Eric Ookame proved to be troublesome on the right flank after he cut in and hit a powerful shot at Kabelo Dambe who pulled off his first save in the game. Referee pointed to the spot on the 24th minute after Thabo Babutsi brought down Kleopas Useb inside the box. Koketso Majafi took the responsibility of the penalty and made no mistake to break the deadlock. Probing for an equaliser, Mbatshi Elias was denied brilliantly from close range by goalkeeper, Keeagile Kgosipula.

Two minutes later, the Ostriches combined remarkably with short passes to set up Norman Mabaya whose shot missed the target by a whisker. Coming from recess, Ookame, who had been a thorn on the flanks, doubled the lead for his side. The snappy winger received a pass inside the box and hit it hard past Dambe at near post. Rollers pulled one back through a free-kick from Mogakolodi Ngele. With two minutes remaining, Godfrey Tauyatswala squandered a chance to send the teams to the penalties by rooting his chance high from close range. Orapa’s head coach, Tiiso Gadimang, praised his troops for their tenacity. “It was a tough game and I was impressed with how the players followed the instructions. Rollers are good technically. We knew they will open spaces from their wing backs and the boys capitalised on those spaces,” Gadimang said. He said he aims to finish the season on a high both in the FA Cup and the league.

The teams Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Tapiwa Sepatela (Motsholetsi Sikele), Thabo Babutsi (Obonwe Maome), Mosha Gaolaolwe, Onkarabile Ratanang, Phenyo Serameng, Marcell Papama, Mogakolodi Ngele (Shaun Gcumeni), Segolame Boy, Mbatshi Elias (Thabo Rakhale), Godfrey Tauyatswala.

Orapa: Keeagile Kgosipula, Mpho Kgaswane, Atamelang Lesogo, Ivan Kamberipa, Thato Kebue, Koketso Majafi, Ratlhogo Ratlhogo, Norman Mabaya (Stephen Sibanda), Gape Thibedi (Kelvin Bingala), Kleopas Useb, Eric Ookame (Kagisano Mungu).

Rollers 1 (Ngele 662nd) Orapa 2 (Majafi 26th, Ookame 51st)