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Botswana: Tasc to Stop the Rot
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The Voice (Francistown)
22 April 2008
Posted to the web 22 April 2008
Innocent Tshukudu
Francistown
When Tasc coach Chris Chibuye arrived at the club last year, he entertained hopes of finishing the league amongst the top four as a springboard to challenging for the highest honours next season.
Chibuye's dreams are currently in tatters as his 'top-four' ambition has turned, instead, to a likely fight against relegation following a humiliating 6-0 defeat by a struggling Extension Gunners last weekend.
It was the Francistown sides' fourth consecutive defeat and leaves them with the worst goal difference in the league.
Tomorrow, the 'Tongo boys' who dropped to twelfth spot face a sixth placed Township Rollers who are brimming with confidence following their 3-0 victory over bottom placed Jwaneng Comets last weekend.
With only the top and bottom positions settled with any degree of certainty, just 17 points separate the rest of the pack as the clubs go into the final phase of the season.
Tasc desperately need to pick up points if they are not to be dragged into a relegation dogfight, and know that salvation will be in their own hands as four of their remaining six games are against fellow strugglers Notwane, Tafic, Comets and Nico.
Club spokesman, Ikgopoleng Jonas, has blamed the team's misfortunes largely on poor management. "One problem is that we didn't get the right replacements for key players we lost in the last transfer window, but I must admit that the management has also failed the club, especially in our away games.
"Instead of following the procedure of leaving a day before a game we've resorted to travelling on the day that we play which is not good for the players preparation."
He pointed out that Tasc's newly acquired players, Godfrey Opelo, Teenage Malidzima and Sefedile Nelson, have been out of action for a while, which hasn't helped the situation.
"Opelo is a winger and when we recruited him we were hoping to fill the gap left by Bashin Tsenang who left for Tafic, while Moroka Moroka was meant to take Ernest Amos' position when he left for BDF XI. We haven't been able to find an adequate replacement for ace striker Mokgathi Mokgathi who also left for BDF XI, nor for Benni Dikobe and Edwin Mositwane who both left for Tafic.
"Opelo now works at the mines and he doesn't have time to train with the team. Teenage, on the other hand, has had too many suspensions while Sefedile Nelson has been kept on the sidelines by injuries."
Despite the makeshift squad that Tasc will have to rely on in the survival battle, Jonas has ruled out any relegation fears.
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"Four of our six remaining games will be played at home and the fans will be there to push the boys forward. We play better at home and the boys are determined to impress the fans who have been loyal to us in both good and bad times. We will definitely survive relegation and start planning for next season."
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