First Division South season kicks-off
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday September 4, 2015 12:09
Mogoditshane Fighters is expected to get off the blocks quicker after failing to win promotion to beMOBILE Premier League because of its loss to Green Lovers in the play-offs.
The first assignment for Fighters is against Tsabong Black Rangers. Fighters’ coach, Mpho Mabogo said the club has been going through administrative challenges during off-season. He said as such the team started training late and failed to do pre-season preparations. He said he expected the match against Rangers to be tough because it was always difficult to play a new side in the league.
“We have welcomed back our two players who have been on loan to other clubs, being James Moloi and Oneetse Bakang,” he said. “We have two new players from our development side while the other two have been recruited from other local clubs.”
Uniao Flamengo Santos coach, Innocent Ranku said teams should fight to accumulate points when the league begins and not expect to collect them at the end. He said such mentality is the one that leads to protests, which damages the reputation of the game.
He said football administrators must familiarise themselves with the rules of the game. Santos brought last year’s season to a halt by filing a protest with the league committee about the soft points that were awarded to Fighters. The committee ruled in favour of Santos leading to a re-play against Fighters. The Gabane-based club welcomes Modipane United in their backyard on Saturday.
Ranku said preparations for the new season have been going well despite losing some players. Lebogang Jabari has joined Premiership side, BR Highlanders.
“We have recruited some players and concentration has been to get them to gel with the old squad,” he added. “Normally it is not easy for players to understand each other before the league starts. I will say something different after seeing them in action.” Meanwhile, First Division League secretary, Sydney Magagane told Mmegi Sport this week that all clubs had been taken through the newly introduced electronic registration of players. He said clubs had been given up to September 30 to convert from blue books to the new system. Magagane said the registration card was valid for a year.
Other fixtures: Lesirane City vs Sharps Electrical (Lesirane), Letlapeng vs Prisons XI (Ramotswa), Rovers vs Black Forest (Mochudi) and Rolling Boys vs Notwane (SSG).