SA's Matete flourishing at Botswana giants Rollers

Tshepo Matete

Tuesday Nov 07, 2017. 15:00

Township Rollers assistant coach Mogomotsi Mpote is happy with Tshepo Matete's progress at the Botswana Premier League (BPL) giants.

The South African midfielder joined Rollers as a free-agent prior to the current 2017/18 BTC Premiership campaign.

Nicknamed Skhwama, Matete is known to be a YouTube sensation having had a stint with South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Baroka FC.

“I told him that we have signed Skhwama, so be Skhwama, be that player we heard about and seen on those videos," Mpote said on Mmegi.

"As time went on he became more comfortable. We were also patient with him until he became the player we see on the field week in, week out.

The 26-year-old Matete has been used as a wing back role due to the attack-orientated play at the Gaborone-based side.

“When Nikola (Kavazovic - the Rollers head coach) arrived we played 3-4-3 formation. It was him (Matete) and (Motsholetsi) Sikele who could execute the roles well," Mpote continued.

"But we have since moved to the 4-3-3 and 4-1-2-3 formations and we have kept him at the left back role because he has showed his very impressive defending abilities.

“He gives 100% all the time; he is a very good player. He does those things even in training. He practices so that he perfects those tricks in front of the multitudes at the stadium," he added.

"When we recruited him we knew that he is that sort of a player. So we advised him to play to his strength."