26 Feb 2024

Botswana Premier League pacesetters, Township Rollers continued to stamp their authority in the league with the team beating Morupule Wanderers 3-1 in a pulsating encounter on Saturday.  

The game started with both teams throwing missiles at each other in a mission to pocket maximum points. Both teams never gave their opponents a room to play, closing all pockets and thwarting moves that seemed dangerous. 

As the game progressed, Wanderers rose to the occasion in the first stanza as on the 20^th minute saw the team getting a clear cut chance but failed to capitalise on the opportunity. Wanderers, affectionately known as ‘Bafana ba Magala’ or rather ‘Wandy-Wandy’, quickly became a dominant force in the first half, with their high-pressing game trying to cause all sorts of problems, but Rollers proved their mettle. 

Wanderers moved the ball with pace and purpose, playing at a much higher tempo than their opponents, Rollers were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure, hoping to hit their opponents on the counter attack. On the 29^th minute, Rollers’ utility player Segolame Boy did the unthinkable to break the ice with a pile drive that sent ‘Popa’ or ‘The Blues’ fans on cloud nine. 

Wanderers responded like a wounded buffalo, employing efficient and effective structures upfront that forced Rollers’ defense to commit a foul inside the box after Thabo Babutsi handled the ball in a danger zone in the 43^rd minute. 

Leeroy Mavunga’s astuteness saw the penalty spot being converted to snatch an equaliser for his side. 

At recess teams were locked at 1-1. Technique, mindset, team spirit and physique won the game for ‘Popa’ and looking at the quality of their line-up, there was no excuse for not putting up 100 per cent effort in skill display, great goals and great tackles. 

‘Popa’s athletic ability on the field was impressive with more agility, balance and coordination being visible.

In other words, it was a game of two halves; the first half going to Wanderers whereas Rollers snatched the second. Godfrey Tauyatswala scored the second for ‘The Blues’ with a curler after receiving a quality delivery inside the box from Mariine ‘Marcell’ Papama, who was a marvel to watch. Shaun Gcumeni recorded his name in the score sheet with a cheekiest goal following a good transition by ‘The Blues’. 

In a post-match interview, Wanderers gaffer, Agang Mogotsi said he was happy that his side managed to contain Rollers in the first half.

He remained optimistic that in the future they would do better, given that there were a lot of positives he picked from the game despite playing heavy weights in the league. 

Rollers mentor, Innocent Morapedi hailed his charges for the performance noting they had been winning with a solitary goal but that they scored three goals was a step in the right direction. 

He said he issued instructions to his charges and they responded well, pointing out that they took advantage of the superior mentality of his boys to get the better of their opponents. He said he would work on some mistakes his boys committed to perfect his squad. ENDS