25 Apr 2024

The First Division South (FDS) league continues to get crucial with each weekend.

And this weekend will be no exception as teams will head to different stadia with different objectives in mind. 

While others will seek to escape relegation, others will want to just solidify their status in the league for next season, while a few are still hopeful for a play-offs spot.  Yet as it is, only four teams still realistically stand a chance of an automatic promotional spot in UB Hawks, City Polar, Union Flamengo Santos and most notably, Jwaneng Young Stars. 

With four games left, the Jwaneng-based lads are still the favourites for the automatic promotional spot as they are perched at the top of the log standings, a status quo they have kept for the better part of the campaign.  Young Stars only needs six points from a possible 12 to attain the unassailable point lead from their closest rival, City Polar, who are sitting on 33 points from as many games.  Young Stars are expecting a tough task when they visit UB Hawks at the VTM Arena on Saturday.  Hawks is still hopeful of a play-offs spot as they have accumulated 26 points so far, and the students have been on a good run as they have not lost a game in the second round. They are also the only team from the lower divisions still remaining in the Orange FA Cup. 

Should they win against Hawks this weekend, Dinaletsana, as Young Stars are fondly called, will be assured of the championship next weekend should they beat Mochudi Centre Chiefs. 

The win against Chiefs will be even sweeter as they will be playing before their home fans. 

Young Stars will as usual be looking to their red-hot striker, Serati Semadi, who has so far netted 14 times in 18 games. 

On the other hand, City Polar will go into the weekend seeking to solidify their second position spot when they host Desert Nxau at the Holy Ghost Park in Mmopane. 

The Tsabong lads have never known any position on the log this season except the basement, although they might draw inspiration from their only second win of the campaign after they walloped the equally threatened Mogoditsane Fighters 4-2 last weekend. 

Former premier league giants, Extension Gunners and Centre Chiefs will slug it out at the Lobatse Council Stadium. 

Even though they play in the lower division, the fixture between the two always draws magnitudes, often forcing the fixture to be moved to a bigger stadium.  In another game that promises fireworks, Tlokweng United will host Flamengo Santos at the VDC ground. 

Santos is expected to come with all guns blazing after losing the second spot to City Polar last weekend. Santos will go into the game aware that at least a promotional play offs spot is still at stake. 

In other games, Fighters will host URI Black Forest at Mogo Fighters ground while Notwane hosts Prisons XI at the SSG ground. All the games are slated for Saturday at 3.30pm. ENDS