Local football giants, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers played to a dull goalless draw during their be-Mobile Premier League encounter at the weekend.
In a game that promised much due to the two teams being pegged in the top two positions in the league log, spectators were left deflated as they witnessed a drab game of conservative football.
While the encounter is usually filled with opposing and interesting views, Sunday’s encounter offered less views as spectators tried to fathom what they believed was negative football by both teams and their coaches.
Neither Raphael Nthwane in Chiefs’ goal posts nor his counterpart Mwampole Masule had much to do in the half as they were not tested enough. Masule’s first telling save in the first half came in the 31st minute when he made a brilliant save from Lemponye Tshireletso’s well taken set piece.
While Chiefs controlled much of the game and perhaps had better possession, “Popa,” as Rollers is affectionately known, seemed keen on catching Chiefs on the counter and they nearly did that in the 38th minute when wing back Simisane Mathumo crossed an exquisite ball to Manqoba Ngwenya, whose shot was tipped past the upright for a corner by Nthwane.
Rollers then had Chiefs defense at sixes and sevens in the penalty box but Chiefs defense somehow managed to clear the danger to ensure both teams went into recess goalless.
From recess, it was Chiefs who threatened first as their marksman, Bonolo Fraizer, forced Masule into a good save from a well taken set piece in the opening minutes of the second half.
While Chiefs continued to have the better of the ball, they nearly found themselves a goal down in the 17th minutes of the second stanza as Rollers’ well taken corner kick was headed into the upright much to the relief of Chiefs before Tshireletso forced Masule into another good save at the other end.
“Magosi”s next threat at Rollers goals came in the 38th minute when Chiefs substitute and former Rollers striker crossed a ball towards Fraizer, only for the striker to shoot tamely into the hands of Masule.
Rollers nearly made them pay in the last minutes of the game when Gofaone Tiro, who had come on for Sekhana Koko forced Nthwane into a save, ensuring both teams shared the spoils from the encounter.
