Premiership's moment of gnashing of teeth
Mqondisi Dube | Friday May 11, 2018 14:17
Gilport Lions and Uniao Flamingo Santos’ tears are almost dry, after relegation was confirmed in recent weeks, but a third side is close to weeping.
Any of Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Security Systems, Police XI, TAFIC and Gunners can mathematically go down.
However, it is the trio of Sankoyo, Systems and TAFIC that face the real possibility of playing First Division football next season.
Neutrals don’t want Sankoyo, the only team from the North West, to go. TAFIC, the only team from the second city of Francistown, has more sympathisers than Systems.
But that’s not the formulae that would be used to decide the relegation equation.
Sweat over 180 minutes for each team will decide who trades the lush green top flight fields for the second tier dusty grounds.
But the fight might not go down to the wire, as a Sankoyo loss this weekend, will take them down, and switch off the Premier League lights in Maun and surrounding areas.
It took years for Maun to have a team in the top league, but it might take the next game or two to undo all the hard work.
‘Ngurungu’ faced a tougher last season, due to financial challenges.
With a little bit of injection from the Sankoyo Development Trust this term, they have stabilised, although there are still reports of nonpayment of salaries.
They play already relegated Gilport Lions confident of all the three points, with the Maun community expected to cram the Maun Sports Complex in order to lend a vital voice to the team’s survival.
If Sankoyo win, that will take the relegation fight right up to the final day of the season.
Battling Security Systems, who recently shocked leaders, Township Rollers, were scheduled to play title chasing Jwaneng Galaxy yesterday.
A loss for Systems, and a win for Sankoyo will see the Maun side draw level with the ‘guards’ on 32 points.
Then there is the TAFIC matter. Promoted into the Premiership amid much frenzy of ‘Operation Gwilila’, the mood in the ‘Toropo ya muka’ is understandably deflated.
TAFIC have failed to live up to billing and is starring down the barrel. Another return to the First Division would be devastating.
‘Matjiminyenga’ play a Gunners side eager to secure the points to make their Premiership stay safe, and at the same time move closer to the top eight sides.
At the top, matters might be settled this weekend, which would be an anti-climax, considering the close race in recent weeks, in which leadership regularly exchanged hands.
A Rollers win away in Serowe coupled with a Galaxy loss to Systems will sew up the title for the MmaMasire outfit.
It would be a rare double for Rollers, who were the last side to win a double 13years ago.