Masitaoka Football Club suffered a two-nil defeat from Township Rollers on Saturday, 7th of October 2023 in Gaborone at the National stadium.
Thaloba Nthaga who was leading the team in his first official game as Head Coach, gave goalkeeper Tshomarelo More and striker Rameez Dharsey a nod to make their debut. The away team made a good start to the game dominating early exchange of play.
Majatlhaga fired the first shot when a thunderous Vuyo Mankanku strike was saved by Rollers goalkeeper Kabelo Maphakela on the 12th minute. Two minutes later, Rollers pulled the trigger with Segolame Boy’s shot on the wide right of the box going into net giving out opponents the lead on the 14th minute.
Rollers continued to dominate the first half, and this forced Coach Nthaga to make changes bringing in Obakeng Ramotlhwa and Ambrosius Amseb who quickly helped stabilize the midfield and the team would from there on take control of the game and also attack their opponents.
The game went to recess with Rollers leading one nil.
The introduction of Monty Enosa and Lethabo Ogotseng early second half added some sting to our attack with Monty Enosa’s half volley missing target by just an inch having beaten the Rollers keeper.
In the 62nd minute, a clever defence splitting pass from Amseb fell onto the path of Ogotseng making a good run into the box, only to be brought down by the Rollers defender and the referee choose to ignore the penalty appeals from Masitaoka players. Majatlhaga continued to search for the equalizer but luck was not on their side and Rollers killed off the game in the dying minutes of the game as Edwin Moalosi scored from a Rollers counter attack. The game ended two nil and the boys will hope to redeem themselves when they travel up north to take on Orapa United on the 18th of October 2023 at Itekeng Stadium after the international break. The result leaves Masitaoka rock bottom of the log with no point.
“It was a tough game, we started a bit slow and after the changes we took control of the game and we were just unfortunate not to find the equalizing goal. We will bounce back and we now shift our focus to Orapa United game”, said Head Coach Thaloba Nthaga after the game.
𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗢𝗞𝗔 𝗙𝗖 𝘃𝘀 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗦
Starting XI: More [GK], Kebonang, Gabadise, Tjizake, Mangope, Senono, Ramotse ©, Sakana, Mankanku, Dharsey, Phuthego
Subs: James [GK], Thuto, Ramotlhwa, Galani, Dintwa, Tsholang, Amseb, Enosa, Ogotseng
Head Coach: Thaloba Nthaga