04 Sep 2023

Thabo Rakhale’s solitary goal in the seventh minute of the first half against Morupule Wanderers ensured Township Rollers emerged winners of the One Day Spectacular played at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown on Saturday.

A total of four teams namely, Township Rollers, Morupule Wanderers, TAFIC and Eleven Angels took part in the tournament that clubs used to gauge their strengths before the start of the league.

Rollers had earlier trounced Eleven Angels 4-1 while Morupule Wanderers beat TAFIC to reach the final that was played before scores of football fans at the stadium. Even though the game started on a sluggish tempo probably due to the players’ fatigue, and slow build-ups albeit sporadic, things later changed as the two sides wanted to be the first to score.

Popa were the first to settle and managed to string passes together.

Wanderers were not going to let it slip like that; they held their own and intercepted their opponents’ attacks.

However, in the seventh minute, Mapalastina hit the back of the net through their enterprising forward Rakhale, who was on his element although he missed many goal-scoring chances.

He rounded up the Wanderers goalkeeper to register what would be the encounter’s solitary goal. Popa’s forwards were wasteful up front throughout the first stanza of the match.

Wanderers’ attempts to equalise were quickly dealt with by the rock solid Popa defence marshalled by the likes of Simisani Mathumo. During the second half, Wanderers seemed to have picked up the pace a little and seemed more hungry and determined but that did not bear fruits.

Save for the dexterity of Rollers players on the ball in the likes of Tshepo ‘Skhwama’ Matete, Rakhale and Skipper Segolame Boy, the second half was not exciting and lacked vigour. ENDS