02 Jun 2022

The Debswana First Division South is heading for the final stretch on Saturday  with plenty still on the line at both ends of the tables.

The Saturday fixtures provide a thrilling finale to the first  division south league season with promotion to the Premier League moved to within a  touching  distance for two sides clinging to top-flight dreams.

The race for the automatic promotion to the Botswana Premier League could not be closer with both contenders, Holy Ghost and Mochudi Centre Chiefs tied at 42 points with only goal difference separating the two.

For Holy Ghost, a fixture widely regarded as the most important in the club history is ready to be staged at the Holy Ghost park as they welcome Taung Young Strikers, with a place in the premier league up for grabs.

Mmobane based, Ghost have their destiny in their own hands as they current sit at the  summit of the  league with a healthy 3 goal difference between them and Center Chiefs and victory  against Strikers will guarantee them a spot in the elite league.

Having started their league campaign on a high, it has nonetheless being a roller-coaster season for Ghost who have been dropping points at a crucial stage of their campaign.

Inconsistency has been Ghost downfall in recent fixtures having last tasted victory in match day 18 with  a 1-0 score line against  Black Forest, which was followed  by  a  goalless draw against Matebele and another 1-0 defeat to rivals  Center Chiefs  in week 20 hence have only managed two points from their  last three games.

“The  promised land is at a reaching distance and we are so determined to put the  few  past  results behind us and approach our last  game of a the season, our mission is  to hold on the first position and  gain automatic promotion,” said  Ghost  chairperson Thapelo Otimile.

With only their second season in the first division tier, Otimile said their  mission has  always  been to gain promotion to the  elite league from the time  they dethroned the  then  pacesetters  Black Forest  from the  summit  of league.

“Our new status in the league automatically made us underdogs in every game we played and credit should go to coach Oupa Kowe and his technical team for their contribution thus far,” said Otimile.

For Center Chiefs, their ultimate game of the season against Tlokweng’s Red Sparks on a fixture that has plenty riding on it.

 With a heady mix of nerves and excitement to be expected on and off the pitch, the once mighty Magosi will on Saturday fight tooth and nail to secure victory and hope that Ghost drop points on the day, for a guaranteed spot in the elite league.

Already occupying the second spot on the league, Chiefs will try to avoid a tricky playoff route to gain promotion, with Francistown based Eleven Angels lying in waiting.

Though they started their campaign on a low note, promotion to the elite league seems eminent for  the Magosi following a series of good  result  from week  18, with a 2-0 victory against Broadhurst United, and 3-0 derby win against Mochudi Rovers, which was followed  by a 1-0 victory against fellow championship contenders, Ghost in week 20.

Magosi’s 2021/2022 off the field campaign however was yet another reminder of an uphill battle awaiting financially constrained clubs in their quest to compete in the elite league.

“Like any other team locally, our biggest nightmare has been financial constraints as we were operating on a minimal budget though our operation costs  required  over  P60 000.00 a month which in a way hindered our  progress both  on and  off the field,” said  Chiefs’ chairman Mr Lux Mothulatshipi.

 He said the team’s financial partnership with CRACKit however came at time when the club desperately needed financial support to further turn the team’s fortunes around.

Mothulatshipi remained adamant that the glory days are back at Chiefs and the team will come out  victorious on Saturday and make a premier league return.

While the battle for promotion honors may be getting all the limelight heading into the final stretch of, there is still plenty of suspense at the other end of the table as the relegation dogfight has also intensified.

Both Mochudi Rovers and Flamingo Santos have  all to play for  in their  final  games  of the  season. Rovers are currently in the  relegation zone  with 18 points while  Santos  are slightly safe  on position 10 with 20 points.

 Rovers take on Tlokweng United with the hope that Santos will drop points in their  encounter against  Broadhurst United. 

Meanwhile on other Saturday fixtures, Black Forest  will take  on Matebele, while  Motaung Young Fighters faces Matebejane.

ENDS