Rollers extinguish Magosi's firepower

Mochudi  Centre  Chiefs   seem to  be   in  trouble  especially  in  the  attack  department  following  the  departure   of  influential  striker Keaketswe ‘Mara’ Moloi.

The  Mascom Top 8 first  leg  semi  finals held in Francistown over the weekend exposed  Magosi’s depleted arsenal with the team now heavily  reliant  on the  likes  of  Lemponye FC  Tshireletso,  Tendai Nyumasi  and  the  experienced  Onalethata  Tshekiso.

However,  the  lack  of  depth   in attack  at  Magosi  has  exposed  them  to  top  teir  rivals  Township Rollers. During the semi-final encounter, the evergreen Tshireletso came short of finding the back of the net while the groggy and misfiring Tshekiso continued with his poor form this season.

Nevertheless, Magosi who seem to be shy when it comes to spending on experienced players, are able to handle lesser competition easily. Against Rollers at the Francistown Sports Complex Magosi were moving at a pedestrian’s pace and   eventually became onlookers to the brilliance of Popa popa who are overloaded with talent.

Magosi’s frustration after the   Saturday game was telling as the players and the technical team were seething on their way back to the dressing rooms.
“I cannot talk to you now. Maybe later on, I am not happy,” said Magosi Captain Pontsho Moloi.

Even worse Magosi  will  have  to  come  back  from a  difficult 3-1 loss due to  damaging  away  goals. During the second leg, Maaparankwe  will have to score early and make sure they do not concede  any goals which is highly unlikely against a difficult  opponent like Rollers.

On the contrary, the glamorous MmaMasire Blues went on a spending spree this season. Some of the players acquired by  the team include Ofentse Nato,  former  beMOBILE  premier league  top  goal  scorer  Terence  Mandaza, Galabgwe  Moyana  and  Joel  Mogorosi. With  an  impressive  3-1  score line, Rollers  headcoach  Mark Harrison  knows  that  he  has  one  foot  in  the Top 8    final  where  he   will face  either  Orapa  United  or  BDF XI.

The   full  might  of Rollers  will  be  shown  in  the  second leg  scheduled  for  Francistown  next  month. The  venue  that  has  become  popular  with  football  nationwide  will  be  expecting  to  see Rollers  finishing  off   their  rival  on  their  way  to  the  finals.

For Harrison the  second leg semi   will  not be  a daunting affair  unless Magosi  pull  an epic  upset. Most  of Harrison’s  roster consisting of the likes of Nato, Mandaza, Jerome Ramatlhakwane, Galabgwe  Moyana, Sekhana  Koko, Kobamelo Kebaikanye and  Maano Ditshupo – has players good  enough  to  make  it  into  the  starting line  up.

Meanwhile, Chiefs  have  lodged  a protest  with  the   Player  status  committee  challeging  the  legality  of  Ofentse  Nato’s  presence  during  the Top  8 semi  finals.

According, to Magosi’s  spokesperson Clifford  Mogomotsi , Nato  who  joined  Rollers  in  the second  round  of  the  2015/16 beMOBILE  premier  league  season  was not  properly  register  according to  the  play  rules  and  regulations