BY:Kabelo Seleka
GABORONE:Township Rollers were under floodlights on Saturday where they were left in shock mood affair as the defending champions of
Mascom Top 8 were dismally and cruelly eliminated from the tourney due to the wrath of the laws of the game.
GU won 10-9 on penalties after 3 and half hours tie of football at the National Stadium dubbed Makwengwe’s farmhouse.
The top 8 second leg semi final gala football spectation ignited with Popa stamping authority in the first leg where it comfortably won 2 nil against Moyagoleele courtesy of the ever smart working Mosha Gaolaolwe and Captain Maano Ditshupo at home.
Although GU seemed to have lost the plot in the first leg of the semi final,it slightly edged over the Serowe based outfit Miscellaneous Sporting Club before losing to Popa in the first leg whereas Rollers thrashed the Mmankgodi based side 4 nil on over two legs respectively.
In the 44th minute Thatayaone Kgamanyane calmly converted a lead for GU, 7 minutes to the final whistle of the game, Maome sliced the hearts of multitudes of Rollers supporters that accepted the spectating invitation to the stadium with a thunderbolt to double GU’s lead to take the match to the extra time. Both teams scored a goal in the extra time courtesy of Tumisang Orebonye and Dirang Moloi respectively where Joel Mogorosi and Mosha missed in a penalty shootout to push GU into the final. The confusion at the National Stadium evaporated with the ticketing system. At least a little over 30 minutes into the game, the issue of proper ticketing administration resurfaced.
Just outside the National Stadium, hundreds of supporters clawed at one another over tickets.
Confusion was the order of the day as many fans asked if Mosha Gaolaolwe was a defaulter following his miscarriaged move to FND side TS Galaxy.
Moreover tactically speaking, the Rudolph Zapata lineup for Popa could not confuse any lesser, Ofentse Nato was on the starting xi at the back in a crucial matchup where he is still arguably lacking in match fitness and team chemistry.
Statistically speaking,Rollers wins games when Mothusi Cooper is on the pitch.
Controversy and confusion intensified as the night got older when Rollers fans celebrated non-stop after extra time came to an end.
Another round of confusion geared up when the whistle men got an emergency meeting.
Rollers fans were in mute mode. Local Organising Committee (LOC) declared that the tournament rules are such that the away goal rule is not in effect in extra time so the game should go to penalties. Another confusion.GU fans were jubilant.
GU is waiting for the winner between Jwaneng Galaxy and BDF xi where the kickoff is today at Lobatse Sports Complex 1nil on aggregate in favor of Galaxy.