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Botswana: Ngwenya Worried
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 3 July 2008
Tshepo Molwane
Township Rollers coach Dickson Ngwenya is a worried man. After watching his side lose 4-3 to ECCO City Greens in the first semi-final of the Orange Kabelano Charity Cup, Ngwenya has said there is need to make radical changes in defence if the club wants to compete against the best in the coming season.
Against ECCO, Rollers conceded two quick goals in the opening 10 minutes and for the entire game, the defence was reduced to a laughing stock. Things were not helped by the fact that Boniface Makolo, who was played out of position in central defence, had to leave the field due to an injury. To make matters worse, defender Ndobani Mothuba was dismissed by referee Joshua Bondo for unsporting behaviour.
Since the disappearance of the uncompromising Thebeetsile 'Mkhari' Raditsebe, Rollers defence has never been stable. The arrival of Musa Ohilwe from BMC did not help and the Under-23 captain has since returned to his old club. Rollers technical team was caught in a desperate situation at the weekend as they did not have reputable central defenders and had to play Makolo though he had an injury. This made things easy for the fast ECCO men like Mandlaenkosi 'Sukunyetsa' Sibanda and Robert Tamba. Even after the departure of Tamba, who had to be taken to hospital after a dangerous foul by Mothuba, Rollers were found wanting.
Ngwenya told Mmegi Sport yesterday that there is need for the management to bring in good defenders to plug the holes at the back. "I am worried and the way we conceded the goals showed that there is need to bring quality defenders. The departure of Musa (Ohilwe) has not helped things and with Boniface (Makolo) injured, I am only left with Ndobani (Mothuba). I will have to look at some of the trialists at training and see if we can sign two of them," he said.
Ngwenya said that if they had quality defenders, they could have done better at the weekend as their midfield and frontline was stable. He pointed out that there is need to bring another goalkeeper to help Goitseone 'Shakes' Morake and Lesego Moeng. "We are looking for another goalkeeper because you could see that Chokri (Lesego Moeng) is tired. Toldo (Barolong Lemmenyane) has not trained with us for a long time and we had to use an inexperienced schoolboy yesterday (during Goitseone Merafe Charity Cup loss to Notwane in the semi-final) because Shakes was not available," he said.
The Zambian tactician is confident that his side can do well in the Coca-Cola Cup if they address the weak areas. A number of players have been suggested to help stabilise things at the back for Rollers. One is Pius Kologano, said to be out of contract at Uniao Flamengo Santos. He is reported to be willing to leave Santos. International Ndiyapo Letsholathebe of Police XI, who at some stage was in negotiations with Notwane is another defender linked to Rollers.
Ngwenya pleaded with Rollers supporters to be patient despite the weekend's disappointment saying that there was nothing he could have done to swing the results in the team's favour. "They saw what happened," he said. After the weekend defeat, some Rollers' fans doubted the credentials of the coach.
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They reportedly made their feelings known to the management. They argue that since Ngwenya replaced David Bright, he has failed to come up with a plan to change the fortunes of the team. This week, it is expected that major changes will be made at Rollers.
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