How Mamojadiske shifted balance of power in local football
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Monday May 25, 2020 11:53
For many years, those who had a great interest at heart to see a balance of power in local football shifted, watched hopelessly as Gaborone and Mogoditshane sides dominated the league. Some had already given up on ever witnessing a Premier League side from the north side of Dibete lifting a league trophy.
The likes of Nico United, TAFIC and TASC amongst others had tried, some gallantly, but with no success. It was a given that whatever the case maybe, a Premier League side from the Southern part of the country would take the league championship. Unnoticeably, a not so popular side was building ammunition in Francistown to try and break the jinx and enter Alladin's Cave of things beautiful.
The team that started as Francistown City Greens in the lower division later transmogrified into ECCO City Greens after securing a partnership with Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) in Francistown.
They were not really known until 2003 when they reached the semi finals of the Coca-Cola Cup. By the second season, it was clear that they were in the Premier League not to add numbers but to compete. They finished fourth in the league with their squad dominated by the players who helped the team gain promotion.
They gave Francistown residents new hope after years of seeing their teams fall short in most competitions. Both TASC and TAFIC had previously won the Coca-Cola Cup, but the league title appeared to be a forbidden fruit for them. They were clearly in decline and the arrival of ECCO proved to be what the doctor ordered.
In their third season in the league (2006/2007), ECCO unleashed their fearless side and launched a battle against Mochudi Centre Chiefs for the league title. Both sides were chasing their first ever Premier League title. For Chiefs, it was the time to step up and be seen as one of the big guns.
They had just assembled a star-studded side, which obviously came with a heavy cost. ECCO on the other hand demonstrated their faith in the core of the team with only few additions. Amongst the additions Bosarutweng Magola whose experience gained from Township Rollers and Gaborone United (GU) proved vital. The late Barry Daka took the baton from Stanley Mwaanga and delivered the trophy.
On the attack, Daka was spoilt for choice. His most trusted soldier upfront, Malepa 'Chippa' Bolelang was banging in goals at every opportunity. He had finished as the top goalscorer the previous season when Police XI won the league. Bolelang had the support of then young and wet-behind-the-ears Tebogo Sembowa as well as Mandlaenkosi 'Sukunyewtsa' Sibanda.
On the wings, Nicholas Matlhare was terrorising defenders with his pace on the right while Gaboratanelwe ‘Radio’ Kgosietsile did the job on the left. Magola as well as the likes of Zecco Makhafiri ensured that the team was stable at the back and in the middle as any slip-ups could give Magosi an advantage.
Both sides were playing unique free flowing football which in turn brought about much needed goals. By the end of the first round, it was clear that a two-horse race for league title was on the cards. Police XI, who were the defending champions at the time, had been rudely shoved aside, and now cowering at the bottom rungs.
The rivalry between the two sides gained momentum that season. Besides entertaining display by both sides, their clashes also attracted controversy. But in the end ECCO prevailed that season and won both their first and second round matches, opening a gap between them and Magosi.
They won 3-2 in the first round before they conquered again in Gaborone with a 4-1 scoreline. By then, many people who had initially thought they were just having a good run that will eventually fade, now realised that history could finally be made.
Their mental strength was also up to the standard and despite some boardroom wrangles, they never lost track.
For example, their celebrations for the first league title with few games remaining were put on hold awaiting a disciplinary committee's decision. GU had filed a protest alleging that Bolelang was ineligible to play when the two sides met. In the end, the committee ruled in ECCO's favour. By the end of the season, ECCO had written themselves in Botswana football's history annals as one of Botswana's finest.
They had managed to achieve what other sides from the north had failed to do since the inception of the league. And finally, there was a feeling from some quarters that the balance of power has finally been shifted a bit. Not only did they do exceptionally well in the league that season, ECCO went onto reach the final of the Coca-Cola Cup, but lost on penalties to BMC. Interestingly both sides were bankrolled by Botswana Meat Commission with the Coke Cup winners based in nearby Lobatse while ECCO were based in the far northern side of the country.
From that time, ECCO were regarded as one of the giants of local football but things changed when Botswana Meat Commission decided to end their partnership with both ECCO and BMC Football club. They struggled financially and lost some of their best players in the league until they relegated. They have since reverted to their initial name, Francistown City Greens. They are currently struggling in the lower division but remain one of the best sides in recent years.