Exciting end to First Division North
Chakalisa Dube | Friday April 17, 2015 14:36
Green Lovers that are in pole position to win a play-off spot are away to TASC in Francistown tomorrow. TASC that sit seventh in the table are eager to dodge the relegation fight because no club from seventh downwards is assured of safety.
A win for them will guarantee their status in the first division. The second-placed Serowe outfit defeated Great North Tigers (GNT) by a solitary goal at home last weekend. Lovers have 38 points while third and fourth-placed Kazungula and TAFIC have 35 points respectively. The two clubs are separated by a goal difference. A draw by Lovers will place TAFIC and Kazungula out of contention because Lovers will have an unassailable lead of 39 points. Lovers have a healthy plus 16 goal difference compared to Kazungula’s 12 and TAFIC’s nine.
Because of goal difference, Lovers could still lose and qualify provided Kazungula and TAFIC win by less convincing margins.
A draw by TAFIC or Kazungula will also mean that Lovers have go to the play-offs.
TAFIC host a resurgent Maun Tigers that are sixth- placed. Tigers ended Mahalapye Hotspurs chances of qualifying for the play-offs with a 3-0 win last weekend.
TAFIC have also shown good form in the second round, which makes the outcomes of the encounter unpredictable. Kazungula will be away to a limping Hotspurs. So far, Mogoditshane Fighters have earned the play-off spot in the First Division South (FDS) and are awaiting an opponent from the north. The fight for who goes down to the division one (second division) will also take place tomorrow. From position seven to 12th, all teams could still be relegated. Two teams are usually relegated from the first division league. But, the number may increase if one team wins promotion from second division and more than one team drops from the elite league as two teams from the north look likely to relegate from the premier league. Eighth placed GNT, that have 22 points, the same number as TASC but separated by goal difference takes on Tonota FC.
Tonota that sit bottom in the league table need a win in order to have hope of survival because they have a match in hand. GNT will also ensure safety if they win on Saturday, which makes the tie interesting.
Amakhosi, that are at ninth in the table with 21 points, will be home to Tsabothe. Amakhosi will also almost ensure their safety with a win while Tsabothe that are in the 11th automatic relegation spot with 19 points, may also need a win to improve their chances of survival as they have two games in hand. Palapye All Stars that are 10th face a very difficult tie against newly crowned league champions Miscellaneous that come from a humiliating 3-0 loss against TAFIC. Miscellaneous have only lost two matches this season and they are favourite going into tomorrow’s match.