Chippa Legodimo
13 November 2009
Former Premier League sides, Mogoditshane Fighters and Naughty Boys meet in a tough First Division South match in Tlokweng tomorrow with the top spot up for grabs.
Naughty Boys are in second place behind early pace setters Prisons XI and will be looking for nothing less than maximum points in front of their home fans. However, Dinoko have been hit by injuries to key players and might field a depleted squad. Third-placed Fighters cannot afford any slip up at this stage of the campaign. They need maximum points to compensate for the six they were docked before the start of the season.
Though Timmy Setswe of Naughty Boys is an inexperienced coach, he has done well so far losing only to leaders Prisons XI. He has claimed the scalps of Young Strikers, Masitaoka and Mochudi Buffaloes before drawing with Kgabosetso.
Mogoditshane Fighers' coach, Letang 'Rasta' Kgengwenyane has the advantage of experience but he might come unstuck against a team that is eyeing top spot.
Kgengwenyane said his players are motivated ahead of the match and that a lot is at stake for the two sides. "As you know, our war with Naughty Boys comes from far. We beat them in the first round of the Premier League and they won in the reverse fixture and they knocked us out of the Coca-Cola Cup. So there are scores to settle apart from improving our position on the log. We have not started the league well and it is time to redeem ourselves," Kgengwenyane said.
Naughty Boys' home record has not been impressive, according to team manager Lopang Lopang and this could work in their opponents' favour. "We are wounded following last weekend's loss to Prisons XI and we are thinking of nothing but a win on Saturday. The injuries are a concern yes but we believe that the players brought in are capable of doing the job. We know Fighters need the points as much as we do, but we are not scared because our recent wins were no fluke," Lopang said. He added that the team has been playing well and was unlucky to lose to Prisons XI. Lopang said their target is to make a quick return to the Premier League.
"We have set our sights on returning to top flight football and since we have started well, we can only aim higher and no team should expect any favours from Naughty Boys," he promised.
The Naughty Boys' defence marshalled by Mooketsi Mogale and Itumeleng Motlhabai could find the going tough against former BDF XI striker Tumo Selogamaano and nippy Albert 'Sunday' Podile. Fighters' Martin Serumola and his defence would need to be at their best to close down the hard-working Thabani Ngwenya who is expected to lead the Naughty Boys' charge.
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