Sankoyo seal historic promotion
Chakalisa Dube | Monday April 28, 2014 11:51
The Maun side drew 1-1 with Sladden Eagles in Francistown to be crowned Debswana First Division North champions on Saturday and gain automatic qualification to the Premier League. Before the weekend clash against the relegation candidates, Sankoyo needed just a draw to attain an unassailable lead of 43 points. They duly got what they wanted against the stubborn Eagles.
The feat means that Sankoyo coach, Gadimang Tiiso has arguably made history by becoming the youngest coach to help a club win promotion to the elite at the age of 33. After the match, he said he is honoured to have guided the team to the elite league. “Hard work and team work by the players, the management and the technical team is what got us this far. The supporters have also been great and this promotion is their reward for backing the club,” he said.
He said the promotion will take Premier League football to Maun and other areas in the North Western part of the country for the first time. “Supporters in those areas only watch Premier League teams on TV. Our promotion means that they will be able to see these clubs when they play in Maun and be closer to Premier League football,” he said. Sankoyo’s main priority now is to survive in the Premier League and then fight for top honours. “We will be going into the market to sign around five experienced players to compliment what we already have,” Tiiso said.
The club chairman, Mokolobetsi Pelekekae called the business community and members of the public to support them to stay in the top flight and fight for titles. “We will be travelling a lot especially that we are isolated from other clubs which is financially intensive which is why we are calling the business community to support us. We will not let them and our supporters down,” he said. He said the club will sign seasoned campaigners to survive the rigours of the elite league.