Prisons XI show early intentions

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Thursday November 26, 2009 00:00

 

Team manager, Ernest Mahala Dintweng said they cannot afford to stay in the First Division longer. Leading the pack with 16 points, four ahead of second placed Naughty Boys, Prisons XI look set to win the league and bounce back to the top flight although it is still early days. Prisons XI have played seven games, winning five, drawing one and losing once to Masitaoka.

Dintweng is confident that his side will maintain consistency to emerge tops. He said the aim is to gain automatic promotion and a promotion play-off spot is not an option.

'This is the third season that we have been playing here. In the second season, we finished third and that was disappointing because we did not even qualify for the play-offs.

When the season started, management resolved that time has come for us to bounce back and so far, we are on course,' Dintweng said.

He explained that the club has returned to its tradition of retaining most prisons staff as  the core members of the playing unit. A few players have been recruited from outside to beef up the squad. 'We knew that those who are working here will have the interests of the team at heart and they will be more committed. The other thing was to get fresh talent to blend it with the experience of Kabelo Kgosiang, Moffat Namane and Tatenda Mbikiwa and so far it has been working fine,' he said.

The new faces at Prisons XI include Leapetswe Kgalemang who was recruited from a lower division side in Kasane, Goabaone Gababone from Delta Cubs in Maun, Gaontebale Tshelametsi from Gantsi Terrors, Moagi Letsomo from Maphatshwa FC in Serowe and Obed Goitsemang.

The club retained coach Moitapedi 'Juluka' Rankhudu and brought in Johannes 'Panyaza' Sekelenyane and Kaelo 'Digger' Montwedi as assistants. 'Management felt that Juluka did not perform badly in the past season considering that he came when the league had already started.

It was also important to get him assistants who have been involved with the team before. It goes back to the fact that we needed people whose hearts are closer to the team,' he said.