Calendar Stars hold keys in tight relegation battle
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday April 27, 2026 06:00
Sitting 15th on 18 points, level with bottom-placed Santa Green, they are not only battling to stay up but also directly influencing the fate of fellow strugglers.
It has been a difficult campaign for the Premiership rookies. They have managed just four wins in 26 games, the lowest turnout in the league.
Their recent form offers little encouragement, with only one victory in their last five matches. That inconsistency has kept them rooted in the bottom two for much of the season.
The team's remaining fixtures, however, place them at the centre of the survival race. They face Black Lions this weekend, a side just above them on 21 points. That match presents an immediate opportunity to close the gap whilst pulling a direct rival deeper into trouble.
Stars then travel to face Extension Gunners, who occupy 13th position with 22 points. Gunners have shown signs of improvement, collecting 10 points from their last five matches, and appear to be gaining momentum at the right time.
The encounter could prove decisive in separating the sides around the cut-off line.
A tougher assignment follows against Gaborone United (GU), who are pushing for the league title and are unlikely to drop points easily at this stage of the season. Stars will then conclude their campaign away to TAFIC, another team not entirely safe despite sitting four points above the relegation zone.
At the bottom, Santa Green’s situation looks increasingly difficult. The Veggies also have 18 points but have struggled throughout the season, particularly defensively, conceding 50 goals in 26 games.
With fixtures against Matebele FC, Orapa United, TAFIC, and Black Lions still to come, their margin for error is minimal.
Black Lions, in their first season in the top flight, are also under pressure. They sit 14th with 21 points but have scored just 12 goals all season, the lowest in the league.
Their challenge has been converting performances into goals, and that remains a concern heading into the final stretch.
Gunners, just one point above the relegation zone, have given themselves a chance through improved form. Their recent results have lifted them out of immediate danger, but with matches against BDF XI, Calendar Stars, Nico United, and Mochudi Centre Chiefs remaining, they still have work to do.
TAFIC, currently 12th, are slightly better placed but not entirely secure. Off-field uncertainty, including changes in leadership and sponsorship concerns, has added to their challenges at a critical stage of the season.
Their remaining fixtures include GU, Nico United, Santa Green, and Calendar Stars.
The situation could become clearer as early as this weekend. If 10th-placed Matebele FC and 11th-placed Police XI both secure victories, Santa Green and Calendar Stars risk early relegation confirmation. For now, though, the battle remains open. Calendar Stars may not have controlled their own season, but in these final weeks, their results will carry weight across the bottom half of the table.