17 May 2022

 Maun United Terrors are packing their bags to the lower division after relegating over the weekend.

However, Terrors will not go down alone. Two teams relegate from the first division north (FDN) every season.

Also, there is a promotional playoff spot awaiting league runners-up. But for Nico United it is a mission accomplished as they have been crowned champions.

When he was first appointed, with a sole mission of taking Nico to the Premier League after relegating in  the 2016/17 season, coach Botshelo ‘Observer’ Pelokgosi brought with him new brushes with sealed tins of yellow and green paints.

As he painted his Nico dream, his strokes aimed at the topmost level where the team needed to be. Most of the times Pelokgosi stroke with conviction and at times some sheer arrogance.

Of course, in his course of blending the yellow and green paints, he stepped on toes of his competition not only by smothering them, buy also finding them a no challenge.

In the process, he set himself an overly ambitious target of setting a 21 point gap between him and the closest challenger at the end of the season.

With nine points left to play for, Majombolo (an affectionate moniker for Nico) have set a 10 points gap. A sip of champagne and a puff of cigar could do for a champion coach as he reflects on the journey, perhaps on whether or not to renew his painting or start a new painting project altogether.

While Pelokgosi and his charges reflect on the journey that saw them, up to now, 12 wins, six draws and one loss of the 19 games played so far, the focus shifts to a promotional playoffs spot.

Francistown’s Eleven Angels occupy an uncomfortable seat to snatch the playoffs spot, but Mahalapye’s Santa Green are in with a chase. Angels have amassed 32 points from 19 games, just a point ahead of Santa who are green with jealousy for the spot.

Bobonong’s Peacemakers sit on the fourth spot with 26 points.

Peacemakers coach previously salivated at the possibility of sneaking into the playoffs spot, but would also accept defeat if the top teams close him out.

Even Motlakase Dynamos and Miscellaneous with 25 points each are still in, mathematically, with a chance. While the teams at the top half of the FDN table size up their promotional playoffs chances, Maun United Terrors are packing their bags to the Division One league.  Terrors have managed only 11 points in 19 games and can only accumulate 20 if they win their remaining three games.

With 20 points, the team cannot go above Green Lovers who are currently at 21 points. At the red zone, Terrors are accompanied by Tafic who are vowing ‘The Greatest Escape.’

At 19 points, Tafic can shoot up to safety with 28 points.

This weekend will see the once mighty Tafic face fellow city mates Calendar Stars.

Although in the amber, Stars are also teetering on the feeble edges of the FDN log. At 22 points Stars can slip into the relegation zone if they lose to TAFIC this weekend.

Nico will play hosts to Peacemakers, Chadibe will welcome relegated Terrors, Green Lovers will await Motlakase, Santa Green play hosts to Sankoyo Bush Bucks while Angels will welcome Miscellaneous.

The games will be played as per the fixtures save for the last game, according to FDN secretary Gosego Mogapi.

The committee will keep releasing weekly fixtures as has been the norm. “We don’t have a luxury of approved grounds that sit there waiting for us. For example, Tafic had booked Francistown City Stadium, but found another event there that had booked three months in advance,” Mogapi said about the struggle for grounds.

However, the FDN will have to secure enough grounds on the last day of the league where all the competing teams will play same date same time to amongst other things, nip chances of match fixing. ENDS