Ex-Premier League sides in near oblivion
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday April 28, 2017 14:41
Fast, they started to sink as they touched the third tier of football, moving closer to oblivion. GNT’s future in the First Division hangs in the balance. Maun Tigers were relegated after just one season in the First Division.
Satmos continued their downward spiral from the top flight last season down to Division One in a similar fashion as cross-town fellows, Mosquito who are yet to raise a hand after falling over a decade ago.
After struggling to stay afloat since turning paupers following the Bosele Declaration, TASC finally succumbed to perennial financial struggles. Another Bosele Declaration victim and former elite league side, GNT have their first division future holding by a string.
The former Police side have their future in another men’s hands, with their fate to be decided when the Premiership season concludes.
In the beginning of the second round, GNT were as good as relegated. However, they managed to capsise their fortunes. They pulled impressive performances in the home straight, putting up a five game unbeaten run.
Their last fixture saw them come up against Motlakase who were targeting automatic promotion. In the encounter, GNT were the first to draw blood but Chouka were awake to the challenge and reversed the score line to bury GNT 3-1.
The defeat was made more daunting, not only by the fact that they fell one place into the uncertain position but because they went so near. Fingers will be crossed in the GNT camp that at least Sankoyo Bush Bucks and Nico United who stand a better chance of survival, escape relegation at the expense of a side from the south. Any other outcome, would spell doom for GNT. GNT chairperson, Thebeetsile Motswaeng said until they are certain of their fate then they will decide on the way forward.
“We cannot plan anything until the end of all the league games when our future is decided. Strategies are different, if we fall we will obviously work on a way back,” he said. “We are in this position because of financial problems, and we are at risk of losing players but we will wait and see what happens.”
The fall of the three giants and a continuing decline of the number of northern sides in the Premiership is testament that football in the north is facing monumental challenges.