Faltering chasers pile below Highlanders

Koketso Kgoboge | Friday February 16, 2018 13:43

 

The win sent Highlanders eight points clear at the top but right below, faltering chasers are piling.

Highlanders would be tested week in, week out, starting with a tough examination against Sua Flamingoes. Flamingoes will not be an easy prey at Railway grounds. In fact Highlanders would know better after they suffered a humiliating 3-0 thrashing in the reverse fixture.

Flamingoes want to derail Highlanders’ title charge, while at the same time, free themselves from the mid-table scuffle. There is a frenzied battle for the play-off berth. Only six points separate second-placed Motlakase and Francistown City Greens at position 10.

In between, the teams are on each other’s throat. Chouka are three points clear off Flamingoes, Morupule Wanderers, Nico United and Green Lovers, all on 20 points and separated by marginal goal differences.

Great North Tigers, United Hotspurs, Calendar Stars and City Greens are also close by, only four points, being the difference. A single fixture is enough to re-arrange the mid-table.

Former giant slayers, Real Movers, have found the going a little tough this season. They are playing mud games with punching bags, Maphatshwa who look set for a quick return to Division One. The Serowe side has managed a meagre six points from 13 matches.

Fierce battles are expected to dominate the final stretch of the campaign.

Motlakase welcome Mamoja at Palapye Swallows ground. The hosts are winless in the last four encounters, which include a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of their weekend opponents. Both sides have everything to lose and fireworks are expected in Palapye.

Nico United, who have been making inroads in the second round, face Real Movers in the Selebi-Phikwe derby. Majombolo are yet to lose a game and they have moved from the red zone to position five in a split.

Morupule Wanderers are stuttering but on paper, are too muscular for their opponents, GNT. They are not easy customers at Pilikwe and they would be expected to flex their muscle.

Former premiership giants, Mahalapye United Hotspurs and Green Lovers play each other in Mahalapye. Lovers could go second with a win and Amahot would move into the top four if they emerge with the three points. Maphatshwa will try drawing fellow rookies Calendar Stars closer to the relegation mix, but the Francistown side might carry too much artillery.