The Voice (Francistown)
Innocent Tshukudu
29 April 2008
The struggle for a foothold at the top of the league table continues this weekend as the Mascom Premier league heats up. In Francistown Ecco City Greens will be keen to enhance their championship credentials when they host seventh placed Township Rollers at the Francistown stadium this Saturday.
The Ghetto darlings have since put behind them their recent dispute with Mochudi Centre Chiefs. The infamous row ensued last December following a game that had to be called off due to darkness.
The Premier League Committee have since ruled that the game should be replayed before the beginning of the second round.
The decision has not hindered Ecco's quest to maintain their log leadership and ultimately bring the championship north of the tropic of Capricorn for a historic first time.
Tomorrow 'Mamoja Diskie' will be in for a testing afternoon as they play hosts to Township Rollers in their first game of the New Year.
Their PRO, Nelson Legwatagwata is aware that defeat in this fixture might spell doom on the league pacesetters who are only two points clear at the top.
"The league is closely contested and our boys know the importance of increasing the gap at the top and we won't be taking any chances when we play Rollers on Saturday. Our technical team has been busy getting the boys into shape after the Christmas recess. Last weekend we played against Bulawayo Highlanders in a friendly match at Masunga Sports complex and they gave us quite a game. They beat us 4-3 but we were impressed with our boys' level of fitness. We are now ready for Rollers and we are determined to maintain our winning form."
On paper Ecco are favourites to win the game, but games aren't played on paper and despite their league position, Rollers might turn the tables around and spoil the party.
The league's defending champions have since lost some of their key players in the likes of Mogogi Gabonamong, Phenyo Mongala, Jomo Moatlhaping and lately Joel Mogorosi who has been signed by Belgian First Division side Tafos Athletic.
They will rely on the likes of Thapelo 'Pepe' Balepi, Ndobani Mothuba, Onalethata Tshekiso and Kaone Molefhe to find the back of the Ecco net. The hosts on the other hand have kept the same squad that saw them maintaining a consistent form last year and Legwatagwata says they won't lose any players in the current transfer window.
"If anything we might sign new players. We still have an unchanged squad and the boys are united and morale in the camp is very high," he said.
The clash by all accounts promises to be a thriller and officials from both sides are expecting a bumper gate.
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