Francistown is bracing for a night under the floodlights when Magosi and Popa will renew their age-old feud on Saturday
GAZETTE REPORTER
It remains one of Botswana’s most anticipated fixtures — the kind that unites generations of football lovers across towns and villages alike. This Saturday, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers will meet again at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown at 8 p.m.
Their first act ended without a goal last season but the second brought redemption for Chiefs, who triumphed 2-0. It is months later now and the rivalry resumes – wrapped in history, pride and questions of form.
DIFFERENT PATHS, SAME AMBITION
The FNB Premiership table paints a close race. Rollers sit third with 14 points from six matches while Chiefs follow in fourth with 13 from seven. But behind those numbers lies a tale of rhythm and rust.
Rollers last played almost four weeks ago after their players refused to honour a league fixture against Calendar Stars, citing unpaid wages. The incident was followed by a FIFA international break, leaving the Gaborone giants inactive for nearly a month.
“That long layoff might work against them,” noted senior sports reporter Duncan Kgangkenna in an interview. “It may have disturbed the rhythm.
“And when you look at Chiefs, I think it’s for coach Pontsho Moloi to prove his doubters wrong. His team has been struggling against so-called big teams. All in all, I expect this encounter to pull large crowds.”
For Moloi, the fixture carries the weight of expectation and, as the scribe says, is a chance to convince sceptics that his side can challenge consistently at the top.
A GAME THAT STILL DRAWS A CROWD
“It’s going to be month-end and people might come in large numbers,” said analyst Kagiso Mzambo Kgaogano.
“In terms of play, it’s up to Rollers to show that their form before all the issues and the FIFA break was no fluke whereas Chiefs have been blowing hot and cold and so must prove they can perform against the big teams.”