Botswana’s Rollers FC part ways with coach, hire Portuguese
Botswana’s Township Rollers FC have parted ways with coach Thabo Motang and replaced him with Portuguese Sergio Traguil.
The former Botswana Premier League champions did not state the reasons for the decision to let go Thabo Motang.
“We wish to thank Mr. Motang for his time with us and wish him all the best for his future
endeavours,” Rollers said in a statement.
“We wish to inform you further that management shall move swiftly to find a replacement
before the resumption of the season.
The club hinted that management had made the coaching changes to improve the team’s performance.
“Let us approach 2023 with renewed hope and optimism,” the statement adds.
“We are determined more than ever to get back on track and take Township Rollers to where it belongs! Happy days shall return.”
Coach Thabo Motang has left the team, which is also called Popa, barely nine league games into the new season.
TOWNSHIP ROLLERS FC HIRE PORTUGUESE COACH
Rollers have since moved in to swiftly replace Thabo Motang with the Portuguese Traguil.
“He [Traguil] will be joined in the technical team by Eduardo Lazaro Ramon Leiva from Croatia as a Performance Analyst,” Rollers’ statement reads.
Traguil spent his career with Benfica youth team and has been tasked with challenging for the league title.
PORTUGUESE COACH’S EXPERIENCE IN AFRICA
The Portuguese mentor’s coaching experience in Africa was at Hearts of Oak in Ghana some six years ago.
Traguil has taken over the reigns with Rollers lying fourth, seven points behind leaders Gaborone United.
Popa have won five games, lost once and drawn once and beat Morupule Wanderers 1-0 in their last league game on December 21 2022.
Rollers’ squad include former Mamelodi Sundowns winger Mogakolodi Ngele.
Rollers invested heavily in their pre-season and even came to South Africa for a friendly with Sundowns.
The leaders and second-placed Jwaneng Galaxy are unbeaten in nine games which each side has played.
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