Notable names who have worn the gloves for the popular Gaborone giants include Lesego 'Chokri' Moeng, Barolong 'Toldo' Lemmenyane, Anthony Matengu, Kabelo Dambe and the team’s legend and current head coach, Thabo ‘Mahala’ Motang.
The 2022-2023 season has given birth to yet another promising gloveman in Kabelo Maphakela and the youngster is already looking the part. The 24-year-old joined Rollers in the 2017-2018 season but only made his official club debut this month. Maphakela was thrown into the deep end in round three of this season’s Botswana Premier League (BPL) games.
He started Rollers’ 2-0 win over BDF XI and it was a rather nervy afternoon for the goalkeeper. He, however, managed to pull several brilliant saves to keep a clean sheet. Last weekend, the youngster was once again started between the posts against Nico United. Majambolo gave him a tougher test than his debut game.
The keeper’s ball distribution caught the eye of those at the National Stadium on Sunday afternoon. In his quest to make the position his own, Maphakela faces competition from a very experienced Dambe and the off-season signing, Bophelo Kealeboga while yet another youngster, Karamelo Kgosipula is also in the mix. For Maphakela, he will be boosted by the trend Rollers has set in promoting its own goalkeepers. Almost a decade back, then a 20-year-old Dambe ousted the far more experienced Matengu in his first season at the club.
At the time Dambe had not played a Premier League game while he showed signs of being a good goalkeeper with the Zebras’ Under-20s. Then came a little-known Mwampule Masule who went on to become a household name in local football. Then, Keeagile Kgosipula showed up in the 2015-2016 season and a year later he was the club’s first-choice keeper.
Motang has, however, said "it is not yet time" regarding Maphakela. “No, it is not like he will be the number one or two but as long as he plays well and whoever plays well deserves a chance,” he said. Motang knows a thing or two about spotting a good gloveman and he is impressed with the young keeper as this promises to be a breakthrough season for Maphakela. “So far, I am happy with what he has been doing. I do not want to say anything because now I will be selling him to opponents.
The boy has been working very hard behind closed doors. I think he has been with the team for three or four years now. He has been working very hard. The results are just a payment for what he has been doing,” Motang said on Maphakela.
If selected tomorrow, the goalkeeper will be featured in the biggest game of his career as Rollers take on rivals Gaborone United. Dambe would be an obvious choice while it is unlikely that Kealeboga would make his Rollers’ debut. Apart from football, Maphakela enrolled for a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours in Networking Security under the Footballers Union of Botswana (FUB) and Botho University partnership.
