Super weekend for First Division North
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday January 29, 2016 14:43
Table toppers, Mahalapye Hotspurs visit second- placed Sua Flamingoes on Saturday at the Sua Stadium, while Maun witnesses a derby between Maun Tigers and Kazungula FC.
On Sunday, Francistown roads lead to the Old Francistown Stadium where ECCO City Greens is home to city rivals, TAFIC.
Amahot, as Hotspurs are affectionately known, are on 26 points after 12 games two points clear at the top, while the Sua outfit lies second followed closely by Mamoja Diski and GNT.
Flamingoes should be wary of their opponents who have lost only once on the road and also guard against their unconvincing performances at the soda and ash mining town.
Their only two loses came at home, and two of their three draws were also conceded at home.
In Francistown, battle for the bragging rights pegs Mamoja against Machimenyenga.
Mamoja are third with 22 points, while their neighbours are four points behind on position five.
The first round’s reverse fixture did not fall short of a derby atmosphere, as Francistown supporters poured into the Francistown old stadium to render their support.
Both sides complemented the crowd with a fine display.
ECCO’s five minute double in the second half handed them a 2-1 win after TAFIC’s insurmountable pressure in the dying minutes could only earn them a solitary goal.
In the current campaign, Machimenyenga has lost to all their three city rivals. Coach Atshele Molapi said they are not expecting any additions in the transfer window.
“We are not sitting well financially and I doubt if we will be able to beef up the squad now, but we would do with two experienced finishers.
Nonetheless, we have managed to hold on to our important players, the quality is there and we will keep fighting in every game,” Molapi said.
His ECCO counterpart, Texan Phiri admitted it is going to be tough.
“We have closed on the leaders and luckily so at the beginning of the second round.
It’s going to be tough, but we are up for the challenge.
“We have beefed up the squad with about five boys, but they might not be available over the weekend because their paperwork is still being processed but we are injury free.
We are going out for three points we want to maintain pressure on the leaders,” Phiri said.
In other games, on Saturday TASC host Real Movers, Palapye All Stars visit Tsabotlhe and on Sunday Tonota FC take on GNT.