Premier League 2014/15 review
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday May 29, 2015 12:22
Player of the season
Quiet a good number of players have been exceptional this season.
Segolame Boy was mesmerising in the first season in Rollers colours. Goitseone Phoko pulled out great saves for Gaborone United while Hendrick Moyo transformed Orapa United into the second best team this season.
However, none of these players had much influence in the league than Mochudi Centre Chiefs’ midfielder, Lesego Galenamotlhale.
He was the engine and almost single-handedly masterminded Chiefs’ resurgence in the second round of the league.
Coach of the season
Mike Sithole proved once again that he is one of the best foreign coaches to grace this land. He knew very well how Chiefs, despite starting well last season, ended up finishing fourth in the end. This time, he made sure that Chiefs finished the league strongly and did so with style. Maxwell Moyo also deserves honourable mention for exceeding expectations in his first season as Orapa United coach.
Best signing
Despite failing to make a serious challenge on the league title, GU seem to have done their transfer business well this season.
For the first time in many seasons, they managed to bring a foreign striker who needed not more than two months to adapt.
In January they also brought in exciting winger, Mpho Kgaswane who was a revelation and among the most exciting players in the second round. Notwane also did well in the signing of Zambian striker, Zebron Njobvu. However, Segolame Boy gets this one despite his team, Township Rollers finishing the season trophyless.
He was not only their best player in the league, but also helped them reach the final of the Mascom Top 8.
Gripe of the season
While there have always been boardroom wrangles, local football has not experienced so many protests in one season for the last couple of years. BR Highlanders lodged a protest against Gunners for the use of Michael Pillar while Letlapeng and Orapa United protested against Chiefs for the use of Pontsho Moloi who had accumulated three yellow cards.
FC Satmos, on the other hand, complained about the “improper” registration of Morris Rudzivo by Sankoyo Bush Bucks.
Match of the season
Quiet a number of exciting games this season, but the Chiefs-Notwane game stands out. Chiefs were on rampant mood since January and were now the favourites to walk away with the title.
They met Notwane at SSKB at a time when Toronto were trying to improve their situation in the log. Chiefs took the lead and looked to be on course for another victory.
However, Notwane equalised moments later through Lemogang Maswena.
Zebron Njobvu then scored and gave Notwane the lead. Notwane looked as if they were going to walk away with a win, but Chiefs equalised in the dying minutes to settle for a draw. It was not only a game that produced goals, but it was an end-to-end affair with both sides giving each other little respect.
Worst team of the season
It definitely has to be ECCO City Greens who just less than 10 years ago were the Premier League champions. This season, because of their current financial status, they struggled to stamp authority and managed only four wins in 30 games. Their relegation means Francistown, as the second city, will have no representatives in the Premier League after TAFIC dropped out in the previous season.
Innovations for the future
The Botswana Premier League (BPL) deserve a pat on the back for realising the importance of retention and attraction of supporters at the matches. With their ‘Starting Eleven’ idea, BPL plans to help clubs towards making stadiums safer so as to attract more children and women to the games. They also want to assist clubs in attracting minority groups to the games. The decision to value the league is a good initiative, which will definitely give BPL an idea how their product is worth. This makes it even easier in trying to source sponsors.