Ostriches look to stretch to the top
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday January 22, 2016 14:23
Table toppers, Rollers are not in action until tomorrow when they face BR Highlanders at the Molepolole Sports Complex.
The second-placed Orapa United have to contend with the unpredictable Nico United to maintain an unprecedented run which has seen them lose only once in 18 matches. The Ostriches are on a 22 games unbeaten home run having lost their last game at Itekeng back in August 2014.
The Ostriches are fresh from a 1-0 win over Gaborone United (GU) while Nico lost to BDF XI by a similar score line.
The struggling Majombolo have not won in five matches, scoring once and conceding eight goals. They are ninth, 18 points adrift of Orapa United who have 41 points.
The Ostriches hold the upper hand against tonight’s opponents with two wins, two draws and one loss in their five meetings. All their meetings have been close, with both teams never scoring more than one goal.
Ostriches assistant coach, Zacharia Mudzazi said the team is not focused on the table standings but on their next assignment.
“It’s too early to think about winning the league. We are not focused on who is at the top. There are other strong candidates behind us, so we will push right to the wire and see where we end. What is important now is our next mission.
The boys are happy to learn new things every week. We have a full squad and they all want to take part,” Mudzazi said.
Nico interim coach, Duncan Tshegofatso said they are aware of Orapa’s strategy. “We performed well in our last game, but obviously this is a different tactical game. However, we know our opponents from our past encounters. We are aware of their strategies and we are working on that. We believe this weekend we are going to have a better game than the last,” he said.
Meanwhile, Popa meet their hoodoo side, BR Highlanders in Molepolole. Stimela has defied Rollers even when they have not been playing at their best.
Highlanders posted a 3-1 away in the reverse fixture last season and a 1-1 home draw in the first round of the current campaign. But the Mahalapye side has gone for 15 games without a win stretching from August 2015.
Popa’s three draws in the past four games have seen them surrender ground in their title pursuit as they only lead by one point.
In another interesting tie, it is a battle of fading giants when GU play Extension Gunners at the National Stadium tomorrow night.