Thursday, February 13, 2025

Rollers ready to reverse fortunes as they lock horns with Ah-Ahly

Botswana’s most decorated football club ÔÇô Township Rollers ÔÇô will have a mammoth task on Saturday as they take on visiting Egyptian side, Ah-Ahly in a CAF Champions’ league group match at the national Stadium.

Rollers opponents, Ah-Ahly thumbed Rollers 3 nil in their last match of first round matches in Cairo last week Tuesday. Popa has vowed to reverse the defeat and win the match to keep their hopes alive of qualifying for the continental group quarter final stage. Rollers spokesperson Bafana Pheto said the team is in good spirits and are focused on reversing the 3 nil score.

Pheto said they are expecting match officials to arrive in Botswana on Wednesday. Ah-Ahly team manager arrived on Sunday to set logistics for the team. He will also look for suitable accommodation for the club and training grounds. Ah-Ahly will be lodging at Masa Hotel.

Popa Popa as Rollers is passionately called by its die hard supporters is in Group A together with Esperance de Tunis, Ah-Ahly and Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA). The Group A log leaders Esperance is with 7 points followed by AL-Ahly with 4 points, KCCA and Rollers are third and fourth respectively with 3 points. Rollers only win came from KCCA whom the beat 1 nil.

Pheto observed that from their observation, Rollers has chance of beating their opponents and position themselves in a better position to qualify for the quarterfinal because they are aiming at going beyond group stages.

The tickets for the games are on sale going at P20 south Stand, P30 North Stand, P60 Panda and P80 Grand strand.

Pheto said the team will have a motorcade from Notwane Grounds going around the streets of Gaborone. He said they expect team branches to organise and arrive in Gaborone on Saturday morning to join in the motorcade.

Roller is the only team in Botswana to have advanced to the group stages. Botswana teams in the past have been beaten at the preliminary stages of the tournament.

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