The much anticipated Coca-Cola final between Township Rollers and Centre Chiefs, which was billed for this weekend, has been postponed indefinitely.
By Monday, even before Rollers and Chiefs could be formally informed, The Telegraph got wind of the hasty postponement. The two teams’ officials also said that they only heard of the postponement over the radio.
Rollers Managing Director Somerset Gobuiwang said that they are very disappointed as they have been preparing for the weekend encounter, and were itching to have a go at
Chiefs.
“We were ready for this game, but we have no choice but to abide” he said. Gobuiwang was also not able to shed light on the reasons advanced for the postponement.
However The Telegraph is informed that the game was postponed because of unavailability of playgrounds. The tournament stakeholders wanted it to be held at the University of Botswana stadium, but the Botswana Football Association has exhausted their monthly quota of games at the stadium.
By press time it was also not clear if the two teams will play any of their remaining league games, as they were scheduled for the cup final.
Both Rollers and Centre Chiefs qualified for the finals after edging out Mogoditshane Fighters and Extension Gunners respectively. Rollers thrashed Fighters 5-0 before Chiefs humiliated Gunners 4-0. Judging by the two teams’ semi-finals performance both teams mean business, and the final promises to be a thriller.
Chiefs will be looking to add some silverware to their trophy cabinet, as it is becoming increasingly clear that Rollers has run away with the premier league championship.
Rollers currently lead the log with 13 pints ahead of second placed Center Chiefs. They have five games left before the league ends, while Chiefs have six. For Chiefs to catch up with Rollers, the latter has to lose all of their remaining games, while Chiefs should not drop a single point.
Chiefs will obviously pull out their best arsenal in the Coca Cola final, especially because the cup is their only hope this season.
As things stand Rollers do not look like a team that will lose any of their games, primarily because they have been on top form since the log started, scoring an avalanche of goals and conceding very few.
Rollers will also be looking to avenge the fact that they have never defeated Centre Chiefs this season. Both teams played to a two all draw in the first round and Chiefs emerged with a 3-2 victory in the second round.
Rollers will also be looking to extend their historic Coca-Cola record by winning it for the record fifth time. They have won it four times, and the only team that came close to matching their record is Mogoditshane Fighters who have won it three times. Fighters are currently out of the tournament. However, Chiefs will also be looking to win the Coca Cola cup for the second time in their history. They first won it in 2008 after walloping Uniao Flamengo Santos 5-2. Both coaches of the two teams are yet to win any silverware since they arrived in the country.
