Rollers, GU primed for rare but welcome title tilt
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday November 13, 2021 06:00
It is early days in the BFL title race, but a refreshing sight has emerged at the top end of the league table. In the last decade, Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs were the dominant forces, which contributed to an intriguing tournament. The level of competition was always a bar higher, particularly when the two foes met. Fresh in the minds of most football fans is the final day of the 2008-2009 league season, where Gaborone United and Mochudi Centre Chiefs took the title battle to the wire. It was one of the most intense ends to a season as the two squared off for the beMOBILE Premier League crown.
All roads led to the Molepolole Sports Complex where, by mid-day, the stadium was more than half full. By kick-off, the small venue was packed as fans enjoyed an end-to-end feast, which was settled by a solitary goal that gave neutral favourites, GU, the title.
Few will forget the crunching tackles that Booster Magola dished in a clumsy but effective midfield shift. At the end of the game, Mike Sithole’s tactical agility was praised by many as he led the side to glory. A statement was made; when community teams thrive, the league blossoms. Attendances were quite impressive even during the subsequent seasons where Rollers and Chiefs became the main protagonists. The Popa-Magosi tie was always eagerly awaited and did not fail to give the fans value for money as the blockbuster fixture of the season.
There was the added spice of the Joel Mogorosi move from Magosi to Rollers, which heightened the tensions. It was a proper football rivalry that contributed to an enhanced product. The sponsors were happy. beMOBILE grew as a brand, partly due to its association with soccer.
The new entrant in the mobile phone space had made a deliberate decision to drive its popularity through soccer. They never regretted the decision as the actors in the local game responded with top drawer stuff. It was not only Chiefs and Rollers who took the main characters’ role as there were sufficient supporting casts from the likes of ECCO City Greens. GU too was not far off.
The four would congregate closer to the top of the log every season, until the sad demise of the Francistown outfit after BMC pulled the plug on their sponsorship.
Who will forget the early days of Sankoyo Bush Bucks, a club found in the northwest of the country? Teams found the Maun Sports Complex a difficult place to visit. In Palapye, Motlakase Power Dynamos emerged and there was renewed optimism in the Central District, before the team’s lack of home facility proved to be the downfall. Countless stars shone during an era where Botswana Telecommunications Corporation poured in close to P100 million into the game.
There was Given Mpundu and James Kachinga from Zambia, a diminutive midfield grafter, Lawrence Majawa and a goal-scoring machine, Terrence Mandaza from Zimbabwe, among a glut of talent from abroad.
Mogorosi, Oteng ‘OT’ Moalosi, Pontsho and Dirang Moloi were among a fine crop of local stars that pushed the game to another level. The football brains of Rahman Gumbo, Sithole, Beston Chambeshi, Madinda Ndlovu, Daniel ‘Chicco’ Nare and Boyo 'Oris' Radipotsane shone on the various benches.
It was a sparkling period for local football before problems at Chiefs sparked a downward trajectory. Without a financial backer, Chiefs’ downward spiral was accelerated around 2015, and while others were oblivious of the effects, the whole league competition started to catch a cold. Rollers were now lonely at the top and for the next four seasons, Popa cantered to the title with a skittish challenge from other pretenders.
It was around the onset of Chiefs’ illness that Jwaneng Galaxy emerged. However, like Orapa United, there wasn’t much fanfare for an institutional team. The mining town teams have the financial muscle but they are not the biggest drawcards.
Even on its sickbed, Extension Gunners remains a much talked about product due to its pulling power. Gunners’ sickness, therefore is the league’s loss.
With Chiefs still trying to find their way out of the dusty First Division grounds, Popa appear to have found a new partner-in-crime from the red end of the city. While there was a cry to end an 18-month wait for local action, GU went about their business recruiting even though it was unclear when the season would commence. They did shrewd business, taking former Zebras midfielder, Lebogang Ditsele, who was released by Galaxy as well as keeping Thatayaone Kgamanyane. They added Thato Kebue, Mothusi Johnson and Karabo Phiri to emerge with a well-knit outfit capable of challenging the likes of Galaxy, Orapa and Popa for the title.
It could be the first few strides in the race, but GU and Rollers have raised the early hands for what could be an interesting title tilt.
Galaxy and Orapa cannot be discounted, but a neutral’s dream would be the red side of Gaborone going toe-to-toe with the blue side of the city for the top honours. It does not get better than this fixture and already talk is focussed on the two sides’ meeting next month. Strong community teams are good news for the league and long may they continue.