Rollers face SA teams in pre-season tourney
Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday May 27, 2015 14:53
Rollers will join South African champions Kaizer Chiefs, Platinum Stars and Bloemfontein Celtics in the pre-season tournament. The tournament will be played on a knockout format with the semi-final winners proceeding to the final. The losers will fight it off in the losers’ final.
Rollers’ spokesperson, Phempheretlhe Pheto confirmed to Mmegi Sport the team will take part in the tournament where they will take a full strength squad.
“We will take our full squad to the tournament. The matches in South Africa will be an important part of our preparations for the 2015/16 season and an excellent chance to build strong combinations ahead of next season,” he said.
Pheto said the players have since been given leave and they return to the field on June 17 to prepare for the tournament.
“By the time the players return from leave, we would have hired a new coach,” said Pheto, indicating that they have short-listed the candidates and they would announce their new coach soon.
Pheto said the pre-season tournament would be the new coach’s first task and a chance to know the players.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that contracts for their star players; Manqoba Ngwenya and Dirang Moloi were expiring, but they were still not sure whether they (Rollers) will sign new contracts with the players.
“It will only depend on the team’s needs,” he said.
Furthermore, Pheto revealed that they have parted ways with Michael Pepukani who requested to be released from his contract.
Rollers could face PSL champions, Chiefs again after the latter eliminated them from CAF Champions league in February. All teams will bring their full squads as they prepare for the next season. The draw for the one-day tournament has not yet been conducted.