27 Nov 2023

Drama unfolded at the National Stadium on Sunday when Township Rollers narrowly beat Matebele 3-2.

 Mogakolodi Ngele rolled back the years to score two quick first half goals without a response from Matebele and every spectator unticipated a smooth three points for Popa Popa, but the Eagles had other ideas as they started the second half a changed team.

Obonye Moswate and Thabo Maponda also scored two quick goals for Matebele to silence Township Rollers.

However, drama unfolded toward the end when Rollers were awarded a penalty, which they slotted to the delight of their supporters.

A few minutes later, Matebele had the ball at the back of the Rollers net and they thought they had the equaliser only for the goal to be ruled offside. Supporters of the Matebele based outfit invaded the pitch in protest against what they perceived as injustice.

Matebele coach, Woody Jacobs did not want to dwell much on the issue after the game, although he indicated that they felt wrongly done.

“I don’t want to talk too much about such issues as I am not a match official, but I know the rules,” he said, adding that even the incident that led to their first conceeded goal was not a foul.

He said their main undoing was conceeding simple goals, but that a draw would have been a much fairer result.

For his part, Rollers assistant coach, Oarabile Seabo said his players thought the points were in the bag and they became casual and relaxed when the game was far from over.

He added that all they had to do after the goals was to manage the game to the end, “but my players relaxed too much and that gave Matebele confidence,” he said.

Seabo also maintained that the penalty they were awarded was the correct decision, but that he was not certain about the Matebele goal that was adjudged offside.

“From where I was seated, I don’t think it was an offside, but I will have to see the footage again to see if indeed it was an offside or not,” he said, adding that the referees decision was always final. Seabo, however, said his team would have to improve its performance when facing experienced and well drilled opponents. ENDS