27 Jan 2025

Fresh from smothering Nico United 5-0 in Sowa Township, visiting Sua Flamingoes landed another blow, a 2-0 thrashing of their hosts in a return FNB Premiership fixture.

Although they left Sowa on Saturday morning and arrived in Selebi-Phikwe less than two hours before the kickoff, the boys from the salt mining town invaded Sam Sono Stadium and completed the routing of Nico United.

The win against Nico accords Flamingoes an impetus to the many conquests yet to come, according to coach Nikola Kavazovic. 

Since his return to the salt-mining township, Kavazovic and his technical team have been hard at work, committed to improvement of both the positive and the negatives through training sessions and exercises.

After losing to Gaborone United and sharing spoils with Jwaneng Galaxy, a team Kavazovic waxed lyrical as one of the best in Southern Africa, Flamingoes honed their flying skills to reach top speed to accelerate a catch-up with highflyers at the summit of the log.

A draw against Galaxy especially, a result that Kavazovic dubbed a success, lit and recharged Flamigoes with hope and renewal to soaring up in the skies.

Although non-committal about an intended destination on the FNB Premiership log, the Serb draws optimism not only from a draw with the exalted Galaxy, but also from a ‘six game unbeaten run with three consecutive wins.’

Despite smothering Nico to a total of seven goals from both first and second legs, amassing all six points into their cart, Kavazovic found Nico a ‘quality’ and ‘a very good team’ to gauge their prospects of intended elevation.

After dispatching Nico decisively and comfortably, Flamingoes will face Matebele at home in Sowa on February 1, before taking a long trip to Jwaneng for a character test against the Kavazovic-extolled Galaxy on February 8.

Meanwhile, Nico are sharpening their drills as they aim to bore a hole to erect a permanent abode in the top eight bracket of the league’s finest performers this season. 

Their plans have not been thrown asunder by Flamingoes’ paralyzing hit, at least according to assistant coach, Kaizer Bakane.

“We will work hard to collect invaluable points so we can squeeze into the top eight bracket” Nico’s assistant coach, Bakane said. Although battered by the visitors, coach Bakane was sanguine about prospects of seeing their top eight dream to fruition. Despite 2-0 loss, the coach thought his boys ‘managed to contain’ Flamingoes from repeating first leg’s embarrassing score.

“We had a game plan and it worked for 45 minutes. We went into the second half with it before we opted to switch to adding an offensive midfielder while sacrificing one of our two defensive midfielders,” coach Bakane explained on how they lost the game.

In their spirited quest to ascend the league log, Nico will have to start amassing points away in Orapa before they lead visiting Mochudi Centre Chiefs into a landmine on February 1. ENDS