Setshwane in desperate mission to save BDF’s record

Kabelo Boranabi | Friday May 9, 2025 11:18

Setshwane, a regular figure on the BDF XI technical bench for the almost two decades, faces the unenviable record of becoming the first man to take the team down to the second-tier league in their 47-year history. It would be a moment to forget for the disciplinarian who occupies the same seat as iconic team coaches’ like the late David Bright and Stan Tshosane who spurred BDF XI to greater heights.

There were clear signs early into the season that Setshwane’s troops might find themselves amongst the lowly placed teams. In the opening round, the team went on an eight-game winless run, a poor record for a team that had finished inside the top half on four occasions in the last five seasons. With the season winding, BDF XI’s fate is surely in their hands as they are in the middle of a heated relegation battle. Uniao Flamengo Santos are gone whilst Chadibe FC is all but relegated, leaving a single spot up for grabs with three games remaining. BDF XI and Security Systems are the likely relegation candidates whilst Nico United and Extension Gunners are also not out of the woods.

“It is both ways. If the teams above win, we have problems and if the teams lower than us win then we also have problems, so we look at it both ways,” Setshwane commented on team’s chances after the weekend’s 2-2 draw against Morupule Wanderers. The Mogoditshane based side would feel they lost two points over the weekend after taking the lead in the third minute. However, the army boys allowed Wanderers to take the lead before a late equaliser. BDF XI could have wrapped it up with the last kick of the game but Tinashe Mazambani, clear on goal, shot wide off the post. Setshwane said there is some level of disparity within the team’s ranks, which results in a series of errors in their play.

“Had we won this game, the pressure would have gone down and we would now start focusing. We are currently very desperate and everyone wants to help, they want to do more and there is no coordination. But this is not a new thing, when you fight without being strategic, you would never get it right,” he said.

Setshwane’s weekend sums up a poor campaign by the Carmo Boys.

The team has only won five games this season, the lowest in the last decade whilst they lost on a massive 15 occasions and have drawn seven times. “Let us be honest, when you look at this team, it is not bad. It is just a matter of being unlucky here and there, but when you look at this fact, this is a wheel and currently we are at the bottom,” Setshwane said.

He added that BDF XI will take it game by game as the team yearns for some stealth in their survival battle. “I would not want to look at the three games, I am taking it game by game. I want to plan for the nearest game. I do not want to focus on the other two just yet. When you are trying to survive, you cannot look too far, stay here, arrest the situation that is here, first. I even told my players that if we look at all the three we are going down. So we will sit down looking at the next game,” said Setshwane.

BDF XI faces a 10-day break until their next league game against Extension Gunners to be played on Wednesday.

The coach has said the team cannot afford to enjoy the weekend, as they do not want to take the foot off the pedal. The team is finding some bit of form, as they have drawn two and lost once in the last five games. From the Gunners’ tie, BDF XI will host Nico United before concluding the campaign with an away tie to Matebele FC.