Wait over as First Division action returns
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday October 12, 2018 12:42
The northern league secretary general, Rapula Gaothobogwe said they are expecting all outstanding debts to be cleared before the end of the week ahead of the league start as the sponsor has released funds.
“Debswana has availed the funds, and we expect referees outstanding balances to be cleared and all the teams to receive their grants before the end of the week,” he said.
Gaothobogwe referred enquiries regarding their broadcasting partners, Baboneng Film Productions, to the Botswana Football Association (BFA).
Baboneng entered into a P9 million five-year broadcasting deal with the BFA for the live broadcast of First Division matches. BFA regions coordinator, Setete Phuthego confirmed everything regarding the deal with the broadcasting partners is intact.
“Baboneng is on board, and all the agreements are still in place. They will be with us this season until the lapse of the duration of the agreement,” he said.
Asked if the First Division North audit issue has been addressed, Phuthego said the sponsor was satisfied with the examination around the sponsorship money, which is the reason why funds were released.
However, he said there was still the BFA audit to be carried out. The new season kicks-off with a 3pm derby between TAFIC and Great North Tigers (GNT). TAFIC were relegated from the elite league last season and are expected to flex muscles against their cross-town rivals. Matjimenyenga have retained the core of the team who propelled them to the Premiership in 2017.
In the second game of a double header, Calendar Stars face Green Lovers at 6pm.
The Francistowners put up a spirited campaign in their debut season last year to finish seventh in the league and claimed the title of giant slayers.
It will be a close contest with the Green Submarines. Stars beat Lovers 1-0 in Francistown and the Serowe natives returned the favour with a similar score line in Serowe.
Another derby will be played in Pilikwe where Morupule Wanderers face Motlakase Power Dynamos in an evolving rivalry that promises to divide Palapye.
Wanderers have strong backing from Morupule Coal Mine and through their financial muscle, they have roped in Boyo Radipotsane as the coach and former Motlakase coach Pule Mogotsi as his assistant. ‘Basimane ba Magala’ have also signed experienced Master Masitara from Miscellaneous. Motlakase, on the other hand, face a financial challenge but unlike their rivals, they command a unit that has weathered the First Division storm for sometime now. The last two derbies ended in 1-1 stalemates.
Another derby will be played in Selebi-Phikwe between Nico United and Real Movers.
Francistown City Greens take the daunting trip to Sowa Town where Sua Flamingoes lie in wait. Flamingoes missed promotion by a whisker last season after a narrow defeat to Prisons XI in the playoffs.
City Greens will have to be on their defensive best against free-scoring Flamingoes who have also added firepower to their attacking arsenal with Patrick Lenyeletse from Orapa United and Tendai Nyamadzawo from Mochudi Centre Chiefs.
The last encounter of the first day pits Palapye All Stars and Eleven Angels in a battle of rookies at Makoro; a few kilometres from Palapye.