First Division South introduces double-headers

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Friday December 4, 2009 00:00

Eastern Tigers, Young Strikers, Masitaoka and Prisons XI will have to dig deep into their reserves to survive the rigours of playing tomorrow and Sunday. First Division chairman, Charles Chilisa said the double fixtures this weekend are necessary to ensure that the league programme is completed on time.

Log leaders Prisons XI start their two-match weekend away in Mochudi against Mochudi Buffaloes before taking on struggling Eastern Tigers at Naughty Boys Grounds on Sunday. Before taking on Prisons XI, Eastern Tigers host rejuvenated Masitaoka in Mochudi.

Bottom of the log Young Strikers visit Ramotswa for a testing encounter against title- chasing Letlapeng FC and then make the trip to Molepolole to confront Masitaoka. Like Eastern Tigers, the odds will be stacked against Young Strikers and dropping six points in one weekend could effectively seal their fate.

Second-placed Tlokweng United go to Moshupa for a tricky date against relegation-threatened Kgabosetso Southern Callies. While United will be looking to add to their 13 points and enhance their chances of promotion to the Premier League, Kgabosetso are hoping that the home crowd will spur them to get good results and move away from the relegation zone.

Depth will be key as fatigue is likely to affect the four clubs with two fixtures this weekend.

Chilisa defended the congested fixtures saying all the concerned clubs had agreed in good faith that in order to avoid delays in completing the league, it is necessary to make such sacrifices.

'All leagues are supposed to end by the time the World Cup is played in 2010. We have the Coca- Cola Cup, which means these teams would not be able to play any league games then (on Coca-Cola Cup dates). So we decided to bring forward some fixtures, which could have otherwise clashed with dates for the Coca-Cola Cup. We could not stop the Coca-Cola but we have an obligation to see to it that the first round ends in time so that we do not carry any games over to the second half of the league,' Chilisa explained.