Moments that defined the season
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday May 28, 2022 06:00
Ratanang-gate takes the spotlight
Pundits and fans alike would agree the football on the field was better than in recent years. However, boardroom squabbles took the shine away from the pitch. Just as the final 10 games stretch got underway, questions were raised over Township Rollers’ defender, Onkarabile Ratanang’s registration. After an investigation, the Player’s Status Committee found Rollers guilty of improperly registering Ratanang and the club faces sanctions. The Disciplinary Committee was expected to deliver the verdict on the matter on Wednesday evening after two postponements. The matter brought chaos to the local game as Ratanang-like cases are mushrooming.
Phoko safest glove man in history
It is almost hard to imagine that anyone can keep 21 clean sheets in 30 league games, but Gaborone United’s (GU) Goitseone Phoko did. The keeper was at the foot of a very attacking GU side. He had a good showing in many games and before the final two games, he had only conceded 10 times and three more when the title was decided. Phoko is the best glove man in the league’s history and set a record that will be hard to beat.
GU, Sesinyi fall short on recordsThe champions, Gaborone United (GU) bagged their first league championship in 13 years, much to the delight of their fans. The team failed to go on par with Mochudi Centre Chiefs on record league winning points. In the 2007–2009 season, Chiefs won the league with 76 points and the record has stood for 14 years and counting after GU failed to equal or beat the mark. With two games to spare, GU won the league title with 70 points. After an almost perfect campaign, the team was tipped to equal Chiefs’ record. A 3-3 draw away to Sua Flamingoes and a goalless draw to Notwane on the final day meant the Reds finish the campaign with 72 points, four adrift of Chiefs’ record.
Jwaneng Galaxy’s forward, Thabang Sesinyi finished a goal shy of the local players’ leading goal scorers’ record. Terrence Mandaza’s 31 goal record remains unscathed.
However, the 25-goal record set by local strikers, Kekaetswe Moloi and Joel Mogorosi was under threat during this campaign. Sesinyi had to recover from an early setback to win the golden boot with 24 goals. It was a moment to savour for the forward as, in 2017, the 20-goal mark was finally breached.
Notwane sinksDespite their rich history in local football, Notwane are turning into a Premier League YO-YO team.
After spending three years in the second-tier league, Toronto spent just two seasons in the top flight before returning to the dusty grounds. A busier transfer window in January that saw the acquisition of players such as Galabgwe Moyana and Emmanuel Nlu, and coach Thaloba Nthaga among others, could not save Sechaba. The team will go down alongside, Gilport Lions and Mahalapye Railway Highlanders.