Rains Washes Away First Division South Opener
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday November 22, 2021 16:00
However the league saw five of the six matches in the opening weekend called off due to rainy weather conditions. Ironically, the elite league authorities had shifted kick off times for the majority of their games this weekend to a later time due to scorching conditions that occurred in the past week across the country. The DFDS' kick off times remained unchanged as the venues in the second tier do not have the floodlights.
However, the league could not have a smooth opening weekend due to rainy conditions. The highlight fixture of the opening weekend pitted former Premier League sides, Black Forest and Mochudi Centre Chiefs at the Forest grounds in Mankgodi.
Hundreds thronged the venue as the two potential promotion contenders were to face to off. However, the fans were disappointed as the game was halted with just a quarter of an hour played. When the rain stopped, the match officials called off the game as it was dark and the pitch was deemed not suitable to play. In Mochudi, Mochudi Rovers were to start their campaign against Broadhurst United in their backyard. Red Sparks and Matebejana were also forced to wait a while longer to taste the 2021/2022 football action.
Their encounter was also called off due to a waterlogged pitch at the Red Sparks grounds in Tlokweng. For the same reasons, the tie between Matebele FC and Uniao Flamengo Santos initially stopped on the 40th minute. Two teams were tied at 2-2 then, before the referee deemed the pitch at Lekidi Football Centre hazardous to play.
Holy Ghost and Tlokweng United were also not allowed to finish their match due to the heavy rains. The tie played in Mmopane was stopped at half time and was eventually called off. The games will be re-fixtured to new dates per the decision of the league office. Meanwhile, in the only game played this weekend, Motaung Young Fighers and Taung Strikers played a 2-2 draw at the Mahusane Primary grounds on Saturday afternoon.