Decisive nine Premiership weeks ahead
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday March 24, 2017 15:06
Title race
It appears like log leaders, Township Rollers and Jwaneng Galaxy have a fierce battle until the end for the title.
Orapa United who have been leading the pack for sometime in the first round, hit a rough patch since the beginning of the year and dropped valuable points.
Only two points separate Rollers and second-placed Galaxy while Orapa United trail log leaders by nine points.
Interestingly, both Rollers and Galaxy face each other in the last match of the season.
Both sides still have to play against stubborn Black Forest, Security Systems, BDF XI and unpredictable Police XI.
Galaxy are also yet to play Gaborone United (GU) as well as Orapa United away. Rollers will take their fiercest rivals, Mochudi Centre Chiefs in April.
Both sides have had their share of misfortunes this season, but have been a cut above the rest. Galaxy lost Sekhana Koko for the rest of the season while Rollers lost Galagwe Moyana.
Recently, Galaxy lost another influential player, Tebogo Sosome through injury for the rest of the season.
While Mike Sithole and Madinda Ndlovu have experience in winning the league as head coaches, it will be the first time for Mpote to win it in charge. He previously won it as an assistant to Ndlovu and Harrison.
Race for Top 8 finish
With Rollers, Galaxy and Orapa United almost guaranteed a top eight finish, the Premiership table shows what could be an interesting race to finish in the top eight bracket. At the moment, eight sides are breathing on each other’s necks fighting for the remaining five spots. BDF XI lead the remaining pack with 32 points.
They sit fourth followed by Security Systems, Extension Gunners and Black Forest with 31, 30 and 29 points respectively. On 27 points are Chiefs, GU and Police XI with Gilport Lions currently on 23 points with two games in hand.
Except for Security Systems who have won three out of the last four games, the rest of the pack have been blowing hot and cold, making the next coming fixtures even more unpredictable and interesting.
Relegation battle
At the bottom it appeared like Nico United, Green Lovers and Mahalapye Hotspurs were on their way out until recently when Nico started grinding results.
Hotspurs are languishing at the bottom with 14 points. They have tasted victory only three times in 21 games. Green Lovers have 15 points.
Nico picked up five points in the last three matches and moved closer to Sankoyo Bush Bucks who have 22 points. Nico have collected 19 points so far and have fired head coach, Dean Mwiinde.