Township Rollers

The club was formed in 1961 by employees of the Public Works Department, initially under the name Mighty Tigers. Those workers were involved in constructing roads in Gaborone as the city developed ahead of Botswana’s independence.

In 1965, the team became Township Rollers. The name joined two parts of its origin story: Gaborone was then a small township, while rollers were among the machines used by the founders in their road-building work.

Township Rollers have won 16 Botswana top-flight championships, more than any other club. Their title history stretches from 1979 to 2018/19 and includes a dominant run of six league triumphs during the 1980s.

The club has also won the leading national knockout cup six times and lifted the Mascom Top 8 twice. Domestic doubles in 1979, 2004/05 and 2009/10 underline Rollers’ place among the defining clubs of Botswana football.

Rollers reached the group stage of the CAF Champions League in 2018. Their route included a notable preliminary-round victory over Sudanese club Al-Merrikh, taking the Botswana champions into the competition’s last 16.

The group featured some of African football’s established names, including Al Ahly and Espérance de Tunis. Although Rollers did not progress, reaching that stage remains one of the club’s most significant continental achievements.

Township Rollers share one of Botswana football’s oldest rivalries with Gaborone United. Meetings between the two capital clubs are known as the Gaborone Derby.

Rollers also have a major rivalry with Mochudi Centre Chiefs. The scale of both clubs’ support and their battles for domestic honours have made that fixture another of the country’s most important football occasions.

Blue and gold have defined Township Rollers’ home identity since the 1970s, while blue and white combinations have commonly appeared in change kits. The colours are strongly associated with both the team and its large nationwide following.

The crest reflects the club’s origins. Its imagery includes road rollers, a football boot and ball, together with a representation of the early Gaborone roads built by the Public Works Department employees who founded the team.

This FanFile covers Township Rollers rather than one particular jersey. Shirt patterns, sponsors and manufacturers change over time, so check the crest, product label and detailing on your own shirt to identify its season and edition.

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• Township Rollers FC: official Facebook
• Township Rollers FC: official Instagram
• ESPN: Township Rollers and their African ambitions

Facts checked: 17 September 2026.