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Botswana: Letlapeng Prepares for Life in the First Division
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
18 July 2008
Posted to the web 18 July 2008
Chippa Legodimo
After three unsuccessful attempts Ramotswa-based Letlapeng finally made it to the First Division South League.
But while management and players are still basking in the glory of the just-ended relegation play-offs, new challenges lie ahead. They insist that they are not in their new surrounding by default but they still have to worry about ways of making their stay longer.
Letlapeng technical manager Buttler 'JJ' Selelo says while they celebrate their new status they also appreciate the new challenges that come with playing in the First Division. "We went to the play-offs positive that we were going to make it this time around because we had tried unsuccessfully before. There was no doubt in our minds that our time had arrived and we did not even worry about the type of opposition we were going to meet let alone their playing style," Selelo told Mmegi Sport.
Letlapeng won seven out of their eight games, drawing to eventual winners of the games Kumakwane Checkers, who beat them to top the log on goal difference and secured their own First Division spot. "We went to Jwaneng with one thing in mind - that we were not going to lose a game and the draw came in our first game against Checkers - from there we went on the rampage on one side while they also went on a winning spree," Selelo said.
However, Selelo noted that it was never going to be smooth sailing for his team as the play-offs took place at a time when the transfer window was open with teams already having made a move to snatch some of their players. "We were busy trying to hold on to what we had while at the same time we had our own targets in the market. Some of our players had already received offers from some bigger teams.
But it was encouraging to note that all our players had a common goal despite all the distractions, to get the team in the First Division, they wanted to achieve something tangible before they could seriously think of joining other teams," he said. "Competition here is much stiffer and the running of a club in this division needs more resources especially money, which we do not have at the moment. But we have to try to get sponsorship before the season gets under way."
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Selelo says currently things are stable but that with the transfer window still open things could be totally different in a few weeks' time. However, he insisted that they are not only there (in the league) to add up the numbers but to compete. "Like I said we got promoted because we worked hard throughout the season and we are prepared, the new challenges won't deter us. We are going to work even harder to retain our newly acquired status," he said.
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