Chippa Legodimo
18 July 2008
Killer Giants and newly promoted Letlapeng FC have promised to "ruthlessly tear each other" to pieces when they meet in the Ramotswa First Division derby for the Coca-Cola Cup at Siga ground tomorrow.
Letlapeng, who recently gained promotion to the First Divisiona South league after a good display in the relegation play-offs in Jwaneng, fancy their chances against their "superior" opponents.
Technical manager Buttler Sello believes his team is a better side and should emerge victorious.
"Honestly, I believe that we are the better side, I have watched Killer Giants play recently and I was not really impressed. As a result, they do not stand a chance against us," Selelo said confidently.
Letlapeng have been involved in competitive football for the past two weeks - taking part in the relegation play-offs where they won seven games and drew only one against Kumakwane Checkers.
Selelo said that after a good performance in the play-offs, his charges are fired for the much-awaited Coca-Cola Cup encounter. He added that they have never been scared of Killer Giants.
"In fact we welcome this encounter with both hands, it is just what we needed to prove that we did not get promoted by chance. My players need no motivation because a lot is at stake here," he said.
Selelo noted that they wanted to use the Coca-Cola Cup games to prepare for their maiden season in the First Division and that they would use Killer Giants as a stepping stone to greater things.
Killer Giants on the other hand have been trying to get match fitness by playing in a series of friendly games.
They lost in their last friendly games against Extension Gunners and Township Rollers but remain positive that they will get past their village rivals.
Killer Giants veteran forward Donald 'Coach' Mopako has promised supporters a memorable match, saying the recent negative results from the friendly games would have no bearing on their performance.
"It is going to be war, we are leaving nothing to chance. We respect them because I know quite a few of their players are good but we are not going to give them any chance to come at us.
We are going to redeem ourselves after failing to gain promotion to the Premier League. We have to show them that they were not supposed to find us in the First Division," Mopako said.
However, Mopako has warned Killer Giants supporters not to be carried away yet. "The fans should understand that Letlapeng are not coming here for jokes, they need this win as much as we need it.
Players should not be put under pressure before this game.
What happened before our last league game against Naughty Boys where people just presumed that we were champions before we could even play, should not be repeated.
As players we will give our best but football is football, no one wants to be left behind no matter which division the are playing in," Mopako said.
The first game between Naughty Boys and Security Systems starts at 12 noon with the Killer Giants and Letlapeng game following at 2.30pm.
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