Firm foot forward for ECCO
Koketso Kgoboge | Tuesday December 1, 2015 16:00
Three weeks ago Mamoja Diski as they are affectionately known were deep down in ninth position, nine points behind table-toppers Sua Flamingoes. But they have since climbed to third and sliced the deficit to six points.
ECCO were relegated from the beMOBILE Premiership last season after their financial dilemma following the loss of the BMC sponsorship.
The Greens made history in 2007 when they became the first team to win the league title.
Mamoja’s 3-0 rout of Palapye All Stars saw them jump into best position since their demotion to the First Division. They are currently the best scoring team with 22 goals from nine matches.
ECCO mentor, Texan Phiri is happy with their rise.
“It means a lot to me and the players. This is purely the result of hard work. We started on a bad footing and we are improving. Our combinations are taking shape and finally we are looking better. It is becoming easier to motivate players, but I am still not convinced. We will continue with the hard work and remain focused,” Phiri said.
He also added they have an advantage over the two teams above them. “We have played Flamingoes at their home and we have beaten them convincingly. We went to Mahalapye and got a draw against Hotspurs now they will be coming to us in the second round. We will have to collect points from them when they are here, and we can catch up.
We are also playing our last game of the first round here against Maun Tigers next weekend and it is a must win for us,” he added. In other matches played over the weekend, Flamingoes maintained top spot with a 2-0 win over GNT while second-placed Mahalapye Hotspurs beat TASC by a solitary goal.
Real Movers beat Kazungula 2-0 with Maun Tigers and TAFIC engaged in a 2-2 stalemate while Tsabothe and Tonota played to a goalless draw.