Chasing pack pin hopes on Wanderers
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday March 23, 2018 15:47
A win for Highlanders will mean one foot into the BTC Premiership, and agony for the pursuers who will be left to scrap for the play-off spot.
With four fixtures remaining, Motlakase Power Dynamos are the closest to Highlanders, albeit, six points adrift. Motlakase face a tricky do or die encounter against unpredictable Green Lovers.
Wanderers and Sua Flamingoes have 32 points, both seven points behind the leaders. The chasing trio stands a good chance if Highlanders slip against Wanderers.
Wanderers beat Highlanders 2-0 in the first round fixture and are unbeaten in the last five matches. Their latest win was away at Green Lovers and that might play a moral booster ahead of the critical Highlanders fixture.
The game promises to be a tight affair. Stimela reversed a poor run of results with a 2-1 derby win against Mahalapye United Hotspurs after going two games without a win.
They have been resilient against tougher opponents at home and have succumbed only once in the second round in their backyard.
Motlakase and Flamingoes have seen dust at the Railways grounds. The duo will be behind Wanderers to hold the invincible Stimela. If they succeed, Wanderers will themself cut the deficit at the top to just four points.
A loss could throw Wanderers far from the title and a play-off spot. For the first time this season, crosstown rivals Motlakase would be turned brothers.
Motlakase could reduce the deficit to three points with three fixtures left if they themselves navigate their way past Green Lovers at Palapye Swallows on Saturday. They beat Lovers 3-0 in the first round fixture.
Chouka have rediscovered their form after a gray patch that saw them go five games without a win. They are on a winning streak and have conceded once in the run.
Lovers are no pushovers; they struggled in the first round but found their footing in the second round.
They have been on an upward trajectory since the second round kicked off and they are pegged safely at position five. Before the weekend loss to Wanderers, the Serowe side was unbeaten in four games.
A loss for Chouka and a win for Highlanders would almost hand the latter an automatic promotion spot. Highlanders will then need a point in the last three fixtures to secure a berth for next season’s top-flight football.
Although a Chouka loss will present Flamingoes with an opportunity for a play-off spot, if they win their next game, they are still pinning on a Highlanders stumble.
They command a superior goal difference in the league.
Flamingoes are home to United Hotspurs. They lost 1-0 to Amahot in their past meeting and similar results will dent their hopes of a play-off spot.
At the bottom, Maphatshwa are out. The battle for survival is left between Francistown City Greens, Real Movers, United Hotspurs, Calendar Stars and GNT.
Two points separate the five clubs between position seven and 11. Calendar Stars play Movers, City Greens welcome Maphatshwa and GNT travel to Nico United. All games will be played on Saturday and kick-off is 4pm.