Oh, what a super weekend! Football fanatics across the world will definitely agree that there will never be a weekend like this one. Since yesterday, football fans across the world witnessed some of the top drawer fixtures in their calendars and the show continues today.
It all started yesterday afternoon in the neighbouring South Africa when powerhouses Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs clashed at the packed FNB Stadium in Soweto.
Late in the evening in Spain, Real Madrid entertained Barcelona in an El-Classico at Camp Nou. In England it will be a clash of high-spenders when Chelsea welcome Manchester City at Stamford Bridge this evening.
Locally, all the attention turns to UB Stadium this afternoon, kick off 3.30pm, when Township Rollers play host national champions Mochudi Centre Chiefs in a game which is set to bring the country to a standstill.
In the past five seasons, Rollers-Chiefs clash has taken over as the biggest match which every supporter looks forward to whenever the fixtures are released.
Both sides have spent a lot in bringing quality players over the years something which has made the fixture more exciting. The rivalry between the two sets of supporters adds the spark to the game.
Since the beginning of the week, socials networks went crazy about who would come tops when the two giants of Botswana football clash at the University Stadium.
A total of 6,000 tickets were released for sale on Thursday and it is expected that by the time the game kicks off, no ticket will be available.
Officials from both camps have warned the football lovers that they should not come near the stadium if they do not have a ticket. The police and other security officials will be on alert to ensure that all goes well on the day.
Chiefs go into the game without a loss having recorded seven wins while Rollers have three wins, two losses and two draws from the seven games they have played.
Despite the 100 percent record, many commentators believe that Magosi have not been tested and Rollers are expected to provide them with that test. On paper, Chiefs are favourites to leave UB Stadium with maximum points but this is one game which is not played basing on history. Chiefs have not lost to Mapalastina in the past three seasons in a league game something which many expect to serve as motivation for Rollers to seek revenge.
This weekend, Rollers face Chiefs under the tutelage of Zimbabwean Madinda Ndlovu who was the main man at Magosi in the past two seasons. Ndlovu guided Chiefs to back-to-back league titles before crossing over to Mapalastina at the start of the current campaign.
While he has played down the importance of this fixture, Ndlovu knows well that this is an opportunity for him to show his previous employers that he is the man.
On the other hand, Chiefs are under the guidance of Serbian Dragojlo Stanojlovic. He has never had a chance of playing in this fixture before and it is an opportunity for him to show his tactical acumen.
Chiefs’ striker Onalethata Tshekiso is another player who might want to put one against Rollers after leaving the Blues under a cloud at the beginning of the season.
Chiefs go into the game without the services of their talisman Pontsho Moloi who was red carded last weekend in their 2-1 win over Nico United while Rollers will miss their hard-working midfielder Maano Ditshupo who also got marching orders in their 1-1 drawn match against city rivals Gaborone United.
The truth of the matter is that both sides have match winners and it will be interesting to see which side will have an upper hand this afternoon.
