Rollers were beaten 2-0 by GU in a Botswana Premier League tie played at the National Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Blues needed maximum points to keep in touch with leaders, Galaxy, but they suffered a loss to GU. Galaxy on the other hand beat Morupule Wanderers 3-0 on the same day.
Rollers head coach, Innocent Morapedi, said the weekend defeat is a direct set back to the team’s title charge but remained optimistic with 24 points left to play for. “We tried our best which was not good enough and this is a direct set back to our intentions. We thought we could do better and a draw would have been better but a direct loss of three points is not good.
We were supposed to win our game, which we could not, so we will go back to the drawing board,” said Morapedi. The match was evenly contested in the opening 10 minutes. The Reds, however, took the lead inside the 13th minute when Omphile Vissagie was dispossessed in the middle of the park by Sheikh Sesay.
The Liberian played a through ball to Molaodi Tlhalefang and the striker beat the goalkeeper to the roof of the net to send the Reds fans into wild celebrations. Few minutes later, Rollers had a penalty appeal when Tatenda Gora was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area but the referee ignored the appeal.
Rollers came closest to finding the equaliser within two minutes to the half time break. Thabiso Mokenkoane beat his man but had his shot parried back into play.
On the follow up, Obonwe Maome skied his effort. The Reds held a 1-0 lead into the break. Two minutes after recess, Marcell Papama had a try from range but it sailed over the bar. It proved to be an tightly contested half as both teams struggled to test the two goalkeepers. Popa looked the better of the two sides but could not break the resolute Money Machine defence. As it looked to end 1-0, in a similar fashion as the first goal, Tshepo Matete’s misplaced pass was picked by Lebogang Ditsele.
The midfielder found substitute, Albert Nyamutsaka who laid for Mpho Kgaswane. The left footer buried the ball into the bottom corner in the third of the four additional minutes to cement GU victory. At full time, supporters swamped the field, the media post interviews were affected as GU head coach, Pontsho Moloi, was whisked into the dressing rooms by the club security personnel just after the live television interview. GU have now moved four points within Rollers and remain third on the log.
The teams
GU: Thabo Motswagole, Alphord Velaphi, Tshepo Maikano, Tatenda Gora, Mothusi Johnson, Mothusi Cooper (Thabang Mooketsi), Lebogang Ditsele, Mpho Kgaswane, Karabo Phiri (Thabang Khuduga), Molaodi Tlhalefang (Albert Nyamutsaka), Sheikh Sesay (Poloko Nkalolang)
Rollers: Bophelo Kealeboga, Motsholetsi Sikele, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Thabo Babutsi, Tshepo Matete, Phenyo Serameng, Omphile Vissagie (Mbatshi Elias), Marcell Papama (Shaun Gcumeni), Segolame Boy (Edwin Moalosi), Obonwe Maome (Thabo Rakhale), Thabiso Mokenkoane (Godfrey Tauyatswala) Cautions: Babutsi, Vissagie, Boy, Ditsele, Moloi
GU 2 (Tlhalefang 13th, Kgaswane 90+3) Rollers 0
