Tigers deflate ECCO�s hopes

Boniface Keakabetse | Wednesday February 10, 2016 14:59

 

Texan Phiri, the team's coach said he is confident of a return to the Premiership despite the weekend setback. Phiri said he is yet to play log leaders, Mahalapye Hotspurs nor Sua Flamingoes. “Our fate is in our hands,” he said. “We have to beat the two leading teams to go to the top.” Phiri said ECCO must collect maximum points in all the remaining eight matches if they are to return to top-flight football. He said his team failed to play according to the game plan, hence their loss to relegation-threatened Tigers.

With TAFIC in the fourth spot and GNT not far behind - with 22 points each -- ECCO carries Francistown’s hope of a Premiership presence.

Tafic beat Tsabothe 2-0 while GNT suffered a shock 3-2 loss at the hands of relegation candidates, Palapye All Stars 3. The result saw GNT droppig from position four to five while TAFIC moved a step up thanks to a better goal difference.

Phiri said they are not under pressure from the unfolding competition among Francistown teams for promotion.

“All the Francistown teams are competing to gain promotion and we cannot expect any favours from our fellow neighbours, so we have to compete,” he said.

Tigers coach, Lolo Mosojane said he hopes to help the side avoid relegation. Tigers’ win saw them leapfrog Tsabothe to position 10 in the 12-team league. 

The former Township Rollers defender said they will take one game at a time. Mosojane said before coaching Maun Tigers, he previously coached second tier Kang Western Shallows and helped them go for promotional play-offs although the team failed to gain promotion.

He said their target was to win their next away game against Palapye All Stars, saying collecting three points next week may move them further away from relegation.

Meanwhile, Hotspurs increased their points to 29 after edging Tonota FC 3-2 while last week’s leaders Sua Flamingoes fell to position two after losing 2-1 to Real Movers.