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Ricky Ziilo, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu caused a major upset for Botswana Premier Soccer League giants Township Rollers, handing them their first defeat of the season on Saturday.
Mpofu’s Masitaoka brought Township Rollers’ six-match unbeaten run to a halt, clobbering the former champions 3-0 at Molepolole Sports Complex. Bakang Tsholang struck a brace and Tlhago Ratshukudu scored the other goal in Masitaoka’s big win.
The former Bosso and national Under-20 gaffer was elated with the victory that took his team’s points tally to 12 in seven matches.
“It was really a stern test and the boys responded well. Last week we suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to BDF XI and we had to respond in a positive way, something we did. Everyone is elated and the boys worked hard for this victory.
“It’s a big win for us. Township Rollers are a big club and winning this encounter is more like beating Highlanders or Dynamos back at home so we take the positive and focus on the next game,” said Mpofu.
The win against Township Rollers saw Masitaoka taking their unbeaten home run to four games. Police XI, Holy Ghost and Security Systems have all fallen to Masitaoka at their home ground.
Meanwhile, Philani “Beefy’ Ncube coached Nico United slipped two places on the log table to position 12 as they suffered a heavy 4-0 away defeat to defending champions Gaborone United.
Nico United have gone for six games without a win, with their only victory recorded on the first day of the season when they edged Sua Flamingoes 1-0. Since then, they’ve played three draws and suffered the same number of defeats.
Nico United are just a point above relegation, leaving Ncube under pressure for results.
The former Njube Sundowns, How Mine, Harare City and Bulawayo City gaffer has been lamenting over the lack of strikers and wants to add at least two forwards to address his team’s impotency.
The transfer window opens on January 1 and before then, Nico United will play Eleven Angels and then visit Extension Gunners. -@ZililoR
Online Reporter