Rollers played to a 1-1 draw with cross town rivals, Gaborone United (GU), in the FNB Premiership opener played at the National Stadium on Friday evening. Second half goals in quick succession from GU's Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Township Rollers' Segolame Boy meant Friday night's season opening FNB Premiership Gaborone derby ended in a stalemate. Kgamanyane had given the Reds the lead on the 66th minute as he nooded in a free-kick after being allowed some space in the box. A minute later on the other end, Boy was quick to silence the GU crowd as he tucked in from close range with the GU defence caught napping.
The Reds had looked the slightly better of the two from the first minute but the Blues had chances with Simisane Mathumo on the fourth minute and Mbatshi Elias tried to head home for Popa a few minutes later. Despite their early domination, GU could not penetrate Rollers' defensive lines until Kgamanyane's effort from the edge of the box that was comfortably saved by Kabelo Dambe on the 21st minute. Popa were forced into a substitution as Djo Ntambwe’s debut ended in just 34 minutes and on his place came in Obonwe Maome. The two teams were level at 0-0 at the break. GU thought they have taken the lead just eight minutes into the second half when Kago Monyake miscalculated his back pass to Dambe and the Reds' forward, Molaodi "Danger" Tlhalefang, pounced but missed a glorious chance for GU.
Tlhalefang hit the side netting with the goalkeeper beaten while his teammate Thabo Maponda was unmarked inside the box. Kgamanyane broke the deadlock, heading GU into the lead, nodding in a cross played into the box. A minute later, Boy brought matters level with an exquisite close range finish as the game ended 1-1 apiece. “Why should we wait? We want to see that positivity (from the start). We should not wait to be punished first then start showing we can do this. Why do we wait for that? I was not happy with that but at least the reaction was good but we could have done that from the start of the game. I told them its better we score 11 and GU 10 than wait to be hurt then show we can do this. I think with the quality we have, we should not respect other teams,” said Mpote. The teams
GU: Thabo Motswagole, Alphord Velaphi, Tendai Gora, Mannered Matsikidze, Mothusi Johnson, Lebogang Ditsele, Karabo Phiri, Mpho Kgaswane (Elkanah Nyathi), Thabo Maponda, Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Sheikh Sesay), Molaodi Tlhalefang
Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Motsholetsi Sikele, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Simisane Mathumo, Kago Monyake, Mothusi Cooper (Marcell Papama), Tapiwa Nyamanjiva (Botshelo Mangena), Segolame Boy, Djo Ntambwe (Obonwe Maome), Mbatshi Elias, Dina Dinanga (Lemogang Maswena)
GU 1 (Kgamanyane 66th ) Rollers 1 (Boy 67th )
