16 Jun 2022

It will be a final showdown on Saturday when  Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Eleven Angels lock horns in the last round of a two-legged Premier League promotional play-off.

The mouth-watering game at Old Francistown Stadium is expected to attract a capacity crowd as Francistowners will be eager to see one of their own booking a ticket to the Premier League.

 Chiefs are nursing wounds after failing to capitalise on the home ground advantage in the first round.

Lekgamu la Bananyana, as Eleven Angels are fondly called, have stepped up preparations for the titanic battle.

The youthful side, drilled by one of the youngest coaches in local football circles, Seemo Mpatane, worked its way into a glorious opportunity for a berth in top-flight football after posting an impressive showing in the First Division North league campaign.

Buoyed by their consistent display of a defensive and offensive-minded game plan, Eleven Angels held Magosi to a goalless draw in the first leg and need nothing short of glory against the stubborn Magosi to cement their ambitions.

Coach Mpatane is counting on his boys to display more maturity and skill.

“It is all or nothing for us this weekend, clearly this is a fixture with a lot at stake but we will approach it with a very cautions mind cognisant of our opponent’s experience and flair,” he said.

Mpatane said he was likely to miss key players who were yet to pass a late fitness test.

“The bulk of our players were side-lined on the first leg encounter, but we are however hopeful for their full recovery on Saturday,” Mpatane said.

He said he intended to use the home-ground advantage.

“Eleven Angels is no longer for its fans only but for everyone in the northern region to support it to represent the region at the Premier League,” he said.

He appealed to fans  to attend in large numbers because the goal was to turn the second city into a sports tourism city.

As for Chiefs, having the experience of former seasoned premier league players in the likes of Arnold Mampore and Khumoitsile Khufigwa could bolster their yearning to return to the elite league the 2018/2019 season relegation.

Head coach, Thatayaone Tebele, said his team was ready for the encounter and he had assembled a powerful squad ready to crash the northern team.

 He said his boys were not scared by the away game though they played to a draw at home.

 “I have no doubt that my team will disappoint Eleven Angels should they commit the same mistakes they did in our first encounter,” he said. ENDS