The lowdown on the 2019-2020 season
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday August 30, 2019 12:00
BDF XI
Coach: Louis Setshwane
Colours: Green and red
Home ground: Molepolole Sports Complex
Key signings: Remmington Masuku, Sphiwe Matlala (both BR Highlanders), Godiraone Modingwane (Security Systems)
Prospect: Under Setshwane they have proven to be a force to reckon with but are unlikely to challenge for the title. The team made a few additions to their squad and is looking to improve last season’s sixth position.
Probable finish: 4th-6th
BR Highlanders
Coach: Blessing Moyo
Colours: Purple and white
Home ground: Serowe Sports Complex
Key signings: Basimanebotlhe Moilwa (Miscellaneous), Michael Pepukani (Notwane), Tumelo Mazebedi, Lynoth Chikowa, Emmanuel Sekwena (all Security Systems)
Prospect: Mag Stimela, despite their thin budget have reinforced their squad. The acquisition of Moilwa and Pepukani will help their leaky defence while Mazebedi and Chikowa will add creativity in the front line. A top eight spot will be their target but may be thrown into the relegation battle.
Probable finish: 12th-14th
Extension Gunners
Coach: Stanley Mwaanga
Colours: Black and white
Home ground: Lobatse Sports Complex
Key signings: Dirang Moloi, Gosegonna Molapisi (both GU), Lesego Galenamotlhale, Olekantse Mambo (both Orapa United), Tshepo Borake (Galaxy)
Prospect: The sleeping giants will probably remain in slumber for a season longer. Mapantsola have lost many of their key players but the addition of Moloi and Galenamotlhale is expected to significantly alter their fortunes. They look solid at the back but may struggle upfront.
Probable finish: 8th-10th
Gaborone United (GU)
Coach: Madinda Ndlovu
Colours: Red and White
Home ground: National Stadium
Key signings: Kekaetswe Moloi (Police XI), Joel Mogorosi (Rollers), Kennedy Amutenya (Free transfer, Namibia), Lebopo Moremi (Chiefs)
Prospect: There is abundance of talent at the Reds after a facelift in the winter transfer window. The once 50-goal deadly partnership of Mogorosi and Moloi reunites at GU with former championship winning coach Ndlovu. The team may gatecrash the top three party.
Probable finish: 2nd-4th
Gilport Lions
Coach: Paradzayi Madivenga
Colours: Purple and orange
Home ground: Otse Stadium
Key signings: Gape Mohutsiwa (Rollers), Brian Tukula (Sankoyo Bush Bucks)
Prospect: The Gillies are back in the Premiership after a year’s absence. They might as well make most of their time here, as a return to the First Division looks certain. Lack of financial muscle hindered them to make any big signings thus leaving the squad as thin as it was last season in the second tier.
Probable finish: 14th-16th
Jwaneng Galaxy
Coach: Miguel da Costa
Colours: Red and black
Home ground: Galaxy Stadium
Key signings: Bakang Leshona (Chiefs), Thabang Sesinyi (Cape Umoya, SA), Sadiki Takunda (Miscellaneous)
Prospect: This is a team that will surely challenge for the championship. They have kept the core of the team that finished second last season. Departures have been superbly replaced. Galaxy has come close in the past three seasons; a maiden league title might be heading to Jwaneng this season.
Probable finish: 1st-2nd
Miscellaneous
Coach: Otsile ‘Chippa’ Koolese
Colours: Red and green
Home ground: Serowe Sports Complex
Key signings: Molaodi Tlhalefang, Oabile Bathusi (both Orapa United)
Prospect: Chippa worked his magic on the team last season and narrowly missed out on the top eight. The team, however, did not make any major signing and could perform a little bit lower than the standards they set last season. This is a youthful squad, and will be fearless, but experience will count.
Probable finish: 10th-12th
Molepolole City Stars
Coach: Enosi Mmesi
Colours: Red and orange
Key signings: Tinashe Chipunza (Systems), Maikano Maikano (Black Forest), Steven Sibanda (Gilport), Botlhe Rakaki (Sankoyo)
Home Ground: Molepolole Sports Complex
Prospect: The Premiership’s newly re-named babies will not offer much but rather fight for survival this season. Their target will be a top eight finish, although it could be achieved with some difficulty. They have lost the majority of their key players and were not efficiently replaced.
Probable finish: 8th-12th
Morupule Wanderers
Coach: Dragojlo Stanolovic
Colours: Orange and purple
Home ground: Serowe Sports Complex
Key signings: Tendai Nyamadzawo (Sua Flamingoes), Michael James (BDF XI), Kaelo Joseph (Orapa United), Khumoetsile Kufingwa (Molepolole City)
Prospect: Wanderers are making their Premiership debut. They acquired services of Serbian tactician, Stanolovic and their squad consist of players with Premier League experience. They might survive the chop just by a whisker.
Probable finish: 10th-14th
Notwane
Coach: Fabian Zulu (interim)
Colours: Gold and black
Home ground: Molepolole Sports Complex
Key signings: Siamang Kgosipula (Chiefs), Lungisanyi Fanyana, Kudzanani Machadzani (all Gunners), Boyo Lechaena (Rollers)
Prospect: An off-season technical team shake-up might disturb their preparations for the season. The team has also lost a lot of key players, but has beefed up with equally good replacements. Sechaba looks certain for a top eight.
Probable finish: 7th-9th
ORAPA UNITED
Coach: Mogomotsi Mpote
Colours: Orange and white
Home ground: Itekeng Stadium
Key signings: Mwampole Masule, Onkabetse Makgantai (both free transfer), Allen Ndodole, Lawrence Ndunga (both Molepolole City)
Prospect: Their goalkeeping department seemed to the weakest link last season. But they have brought in former Zebras keeper, Masule to the team. The Ostriches will surely be challenging for the title but will need to be more consistent.
Probable finish: 1st-3rd
Police XI
Coach: Mike Sithole
Colours: Maroon and orange
Home ground: Otse Stadium
Key signings: Tendai Nyumasi (Orapa United), Chicco Molefe (Miscellaneous), Ogomoditswe Sitang (Gunners)
Prospect: They have been smart buyers in the transfer window. They only filled positions they were required to. This is a team that finished fourth last season and nicked points when least expected. They will cause upsets in the upcoming season also.
Probable finish: 3rd-5th
Prisons XI
Coach: Sepheko Motlhagodi
Colours: Green and white
Home ground: Otse Stadium
Key signings: Modiredi Matengu (Sankoyo), Phenyo Molefhe (Chiefs), Karabo Setoutwe (GU)
Prospect: Like most teams, they did not have any financial muscle to flex in the window. The Warders may find it hard to keep their Premier League status.
Probable finish: 14th-16th
Security Systems
Coach: Daniel Nare
Colours: Red and white
Home ground: Lobatse Sports Complex
Key signings: Kitso Mangolo (Galaxy), Kabo Mungabe (Orapa United), Morris Rusivo (Chiefs)
Prospect: Nare on occasions bemoaned the defensive qualities of his side last season. He has brought in Mungabe and Mangolo who will provide options in central and left sides of the defence. Offensively they are not bad and could sneak in to the top eight.
Probable finish: 8th-12th
TAFIC
Coach: Saul Chaminuka
Colours: Red and white
Home ground: Francistown Sports Complex
Key signing: Metseoatsile Elijah (Chiefs)
Prospect: TAFIC has kept the core of the team that secured them promotion to the elite league. Yes, they are back, but it could not be for long.
Probable finish: 12th-14th
Township Rollers
Coach: Tomas Trucha
Colours: Blue and yellow
Home ground: Rollers Stadium
Key signings: Kabelo Dambe (Celtic, SA), Simisane Mathumo (Free State Stars), Phenyo Serameng (BDF XI), Tlhalefo Molebatsi (Notwane)
Prospect: This is the squad that can be broken in to two teams and still compete for the title.
All departments are filled with quality of both the youth and experienced players. The title is theirs to lose and the pressure is certainly on the new gaffer, Trucha.
Probable finish: 1st-2nd