Ramoreboli said this is how champions should respond after hitting a setback in the previous encounter. He said coming into the game against Rollers, who have been on their ‘A’ game, was a tough contest, but explained that his side needed to come to the party after suffering a defeat in their last outing.
“It was not an easy match for us when you come back from a defeat. We needed to do something to make sure that we get a positive result by putting the pressure on the back four and use the spaces between them.
And this worked for us and I have to say this is how champions respond after a defeat,” he said. The game, played at Galaxy Stadium, proved to be a game of tactics with two teams playing a cautious game.
The home side came close to breaking the deadlock with Gilbert Baruti attempting a long curved ball from outside the box but Kabelo Dambe stood tall and pulled up a brilliant save.
On the 27th minute, Thabo Leinanyane nearly handed Galaxy the lead with his overhead kick from a free-kick, which went narrowly wide. Rollers came to the party on the 30th minute with Motsholetsi Sikele putting in a line breaking cross, which beat Galaxy’s defence, but Thabo Rakhale failed to bury the chance. On the brink of half time, Galaxy had yet another chance but Gift Moyo bottled the chance by hitting the ball straight at Dambe. With one minute to half time, Dambe pulled off a crucial save to deny Doctor David from close range.
Rollers seemed to be out of depth with Galaxy having most chances. On the hour mark, Godfrey Tauyatswala solely shook up Galaxy’s defence but his effort did not trouble the goalkeeper.
On the 65th Leinanyane missed yet another chance with his unmarked header which went over the bar. With his fast pace, Benson Mangolo put in a scintillating cross for Thabang Sesinyi, who hit the upright and Daniel Msendani failed to capitaliee on the follow up. On 72nd minute Rollers nearly broke the deadlock with its back to back chances. Segolame Boy hit a bicycle kick inside the box which beat Goitseone Phoko.
But unfortunately for him, his effort went narrowly wide. Boy yet again put in a cross for Thabo Wetshoemang who also failed to bury the chance. It was on the 86th where the deadlock was broken. After missing a few chances, Msendami showed class as he composed himself in a tight angle and hit a powerful shot which beat Dambe for the first time in the game. Rollers coach, Innocent Morapedi, felt that they only lost to Galaxy because of the injuries they incurred. “When you lose a central defender being a captain obviously you are bound to make shift at the back and this was really bad for us. Everything did not fall into place for us because of the injuries,” Morapedi said.
The teams:
Jwaneng Galaxy: Goitseone Phoko, Benson Mangolo, Thabo Leinanyane, Lesego Keredilwe, Doctor David, Thabang Sesinyi (Fortunate Thulare), Moagi Sechele, Gift Moyo, Daniel Msendami, Thatayaone Ramatlapeng (Wendell Rudath), Gilbert Baruti (Cleopas Dube)
Township Rollers: Kabelo Dambe, Motsholetsi Sikele, Tshepo Matete, Simisane Mathumo (Thabo Wetshoemang), Mosha Gaolalwe (Shaun Gcumeni), Omphile Vissagie, Mariine Papama, Phenyo Serameng (Ototeng Dintwa), Thabo Rakhale, Godfrey Tauyatswala, Segolame Boy
Jwaneng Galaxy 1 (Msendami 86th)
Township Rollers 0
