26 Jan 2023

Extension Gunners head coach, Thabo ‘Mahala’ Motang has expressed confidence in his side’s ability to turn around their ailing premier league campaign.

The beleaguered Peleng giants are currently hovering in the dreaded relegation zone sitting in position 15 of the 16 teams’ league log.

In an interview ahead of their bottom-of-the-table clash with Prisons XI in Molepolole on Saturday, Motang said confidence and morale were the only ingredients necessary to lift off the muddy waters.

Motang takes confidence from Gunners’ showing at his first assignment at the Lobatse stadium the past weekend and believes a comeback is not unrealistic.

“We need to refocus, we understand everything off the field and we need to get out of that. It’s all about re-adjusting, the boys are gladly picking up, the response is encouraging, even in our last game we managed to fight back and equalise.The confidence was encouraging,” said Motang.

The one-all draw with visiting Morupule Wanderers ended Gunners’ desperate run of seven defeats in a row under the watchful eye of tactician Phillimon Makhwengwe before his unceremonious departure.

Motang, who left Township Rollers a week earlier, sat on the bench and watched his youthful squad pull off their usual survival tactics and salvage a point against top eight-placed Wanderers.

It was a spirited and courageous vein of form orchestrated by the perennial relegation escape artistes led by talented skipper Omphile Visaggie who levelled matters against the run of play.

Motang and his charges travel to Molepolole on Saturday and once again are expected to refuse to fall through the trap door. They have an impressive record against their opponents, which might come as a morale booster.

They also boost of a talented squad among them winger, Kobamelo Kebaikanye, who is capable of causing havoc with his blistering pace down the left flank.

Prisons XI will enter the Molepolole sports complex limping after a couple of injuries to their regular first team players.

Trusted marksman, Mokuye Shakambao, will once again sit out while the technical team work out new combinations bringing on new youthful players who were tested in their last weekend’s 0-3 loss to log leaders Gaborone United.

In other exciting draws lined up for the weekend, Eleven Angels will lie in wait for Township Rollers in Francistown.

Jwaneng Galaxy travel to Sam Sono complex for a tricky date against Nico United, Morupule Wanderers welcome Masitaoka in Serowe, Sua Flamingoes entertain GU in Sowa while Security

Systems face Mogoditshane Fighters in Lobatse. On Sunday, Holy Ghost meet BDF XI in Molepolole while Police XI travel to Itekeng for a mammoth task against Orapa United. ENDS