GU 1 (Ditsele 90+5’) Rollers (Boy 24th)

I1

n the last kick of the game, Lebogang Ditsele scored to deny his former team the city bragging rights as Township Rollers and Gaborone United played to a 1-1 in a Botswana Premier League match played at the National Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The exciting tie saw Ditsele strike on the fifth minute of the referee’s time, a goal that sparked some debate as the goal scorer appeared to be on an offside position.

Rollers’ head coach, Thabo Motang was a livid man at full time as he felt the free kick that led to the goal should not have been awarded because time had elapsed. “We did our best. We deserved to win the match and how it ended is beyond us. The time that was set for everyone to see was long gone so how it went to extra time we need the God of football to tell us. Tomorrow they will feel the pain we are feeling now. My players gave it all; they did their best. They deserved to win the game against the champions. When it is not your day, you should not be helped. Just accept the results as they are, you should not be helped. I am not happy; we did not deserve a point. I am not talking about the referee. I am saying the gods of football,” Motang said after the game.

The Gaborone Derby lived up to the billing as it attracted arguably the most attendance for this season. Emotions were high and the football in the field was top notch. Both sides took time to settle into the match as the first chance of the game came after the 20th minute. Edwin Moalosi delivered a cross inside the box but Segolame Boy beat Goitseone Phoko with a header to give Rollers the lead on the 24th minute.

Ten minutes later, Mpho Kgaswane’s free kick was well saved by Kabelo Maphakela. On the 39th minute, Kennedy Amutenya came close with a header from a corner kick but it went over the bar. Popa took a 1-0 lead into the break.

From the start of the second half, Rollers proved to be the better of the two sides but could not trouble the opposition goalkeeper. On the 63rd minute, substitute Shaun Gcumeni found Motsholetsi Sikele inside the box but the latter went over the bar. On the 75th minute, Maphakela missed a catch but with the goal gaping, Thatayoane Kgamanyane headed wide off the post. With nine minutes to full time, Thatayone Ramatlapeng shot into the goalkeeper’s hands from just outside the box as GU went all out for an equaliser. Ramatlapeng saw his shot blocked by the defense, however, substitute Ditsele was close to beat the goalkeeper to the bottom corner to salvage a point for the Reds. The upset Rollers fans in the ‘Panda’ stands threw missiles towards the match referees at full time as the derby tie ended in a draw.

Emotions were high and the football in the field was

top notch

The Teams:

GU: Goitseone Phoko, Thatayaone Ramatlapeng, Kennedy Amutenya, Thato Kebue, Mothusi Johnson, Duncan Otieno ( John Makwata), Motshusi Cooper (Sizwe Twala), Mpho Kgaswane, Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Tshepo Malgas), Thero Setsile, Onkabetse Makgantai (Lebogang Ditsele)

Rollers: Kabelo Maphakela, Motsholetsi Sikele, Simisane Mathumo, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Onkarabile Ratanang, Thabo Weshoemang, Phenyo Serameng, Segolame Boy (Dennis Tjizumaue), Denver Meyer (Shaun Gcumeni), Terry Uiseb (Bame Morwalela), Edwin Moalosi (Mogakolodi Ngele)

Cautions: Johnson, Ratanang, Boy, Meyer, Moalosi, Serameng