Nico look to pull further away
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Saturday March 12, 2022 06:00
First Division North log leaders, Nico United, however, returned earlier than the rest of the batch when they hosted Maun Terrors in a re-scheduled match played on Saturday. Morgan Gaseitsiwe’s solitary strike in the first half was enough to hand the former Premier League side a 1-0 victory and saw them stretch their lead at the top to nine points.
This Sunday, Nico United kick-off the second round of the league campaign against struggling side, TAFIC in a match scheduled for the Francistown Stadium. The two sides are experiencing contrasting fortunes. Nico United look set to make amends for the disappointment of last season in which they failed to gain promotion to the elite league after their loss to Mogoditshane Fighters in the play-off. They are the only side yet to taste defeat, collecting 27 points in the process with a healthy goal difference of 13 goals.
Majombolo will hope Gaseitsiwe, who has scored seven goals thus far this season, maintains his scoring form. TAFIC on the other hand were relegated from the Premier League last season and face further demotion to the lower leagues. From 11 games, they have collected only nine points. For the whole of the first round, they only managed to win a single match, sitting dangerously in the second place from the bottom with the worst goal difference in the league of -10. TAFIC will reportedly start their second round under a third coach this season following the sacking of Bakanuki Maseko last Saturday.
Maseko had only been in charge of the team for a few months after replacing Saul Chaminuka early on in the season. Potentially, the most exciting match of the weekend pits Peace Makers against Eleven Angels at the Francistown Stadium tomorrow. Peace Makers are sitting at position two on the log standings while Eleven Angels are third with the same number of points, 18.
Only one goal separates the two sides giving Peace Makers a slightly superior goal difference. Another interesting encounter will see Sankoyo Bush Bucks welcome Chadibe FC in Maun. Both sides are currently on 15 points with an equal goal difference. Down South, River Plate ground will host an interesting battle between the team of the moment, Mochudi Centre Chiefs against log leaders, URI Black Forest tomorrow. The hosts have just come out of an impressive weekend in which they knocked out Premier League side, Masitaoka in the Orange FA Cup with the help of Khumoetsile Kufigwa’s brace. Black Forest lead the pack with 26 points while Chiefs sit on position four with 19 points. Kufigwa and Arnold Mampori’s experience is expected to be key once again tomorrow.
Black Forest on the other hand will rely on their experienced campaigners, Terrence Mandaza and Mogomotsi Kerebotswe. Interestingly, Mandaza was playing for his Saturday opponents last season. Second-placed Holy Ghost will be away to Tlokweng United at the VDC Ground while Broadhurst United host Mochudi Rovers at SSG Grounds.