Boitumelo Khutsafalo
31 March 2008
With the Mascom Premier League title seemingly decided, the relegation battle has become more interesting.
Barring the unforeseen Mochudi Centre Chiefs have clinched the championship while Jwaneng Comets are assured of relegation.
However, unlike the title, which can only have one winner, three clubs must go down and the battle to avoid accompanying Comets is on.
As fate would have it, the two giants of Lobatse football, Extension Gunners and BMC are in the relegation dogfight.
Things can become worse for Lobatse if Comets can somehow stage a late revival to escape relegation.
Gunners are unmatched as the established experts when it comes to surviving relegation, but this year, their supporters are not so confident.
BMC have been in the fight before but failed to pass muster. The two Lobatse sides locked horns yesterday at the UB Stadium in Gaborone in a match that had a direct bearing on the relegation battle.
At BMC, it is clear that the huge void left by the departure of Thebe Maiketso, Musa Ohilwe and Edwin Moalosi to Township Rollers; Tiroyamodimo Mohambi and Thabiso Mothibi to Gunners and Kenny Ledikwe (Gaborone United) has not been filled. All the players have been key men in their respective clubs this season.
There is no doubt that Bobo Motlhalane who was signed from Comets as well as Sheppard Mosekgwa who joined Ezinkomo from TAFIC have done a sterling job.
While BMC are struggling after the departure of the stars, Gunners have been inconsistent as usual.
After failing to get enough quality players and sticking to young talent, Gunners managed to snatch Abednico Powell and Monametsi Kelebale from ECCO City Greens and Nico United respectively.
Both players have settled very quickly, especially Powell who has already won the hearts of Mapantsula supporters.
While Nico are still fighting relegation, they seem like a team that have found the winning formula. Madinda Ndlovu's boys have been playing like a championship winning side since the second round started. The players look motivated and confident. They now have a good fighting spirit.
The last three clubs are relegated from the Premier League. The last two go straight to First Division soccer while the third from bottom relegates to the promotional play-offs against First Division sides.
BMC' remaining games: BDF XI, Boteti, Santos, TAFIC, Notwane, Fighters, Police XI and ECCO City Gunners remaining fixtures: Rollers, Comets, Police XI, TASC, Santos, Nico, ECCO City, BDF XI, Fighters, Boteti.
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