Highlanders stay top as half way mark approaches

Olefile Serokolo | Thursday November 30, 2017 16:59

 

The Mahalapye-based side edged Francistown City Greens 2 –1 over the weekend to stay top of the log with just three games before the end of the first round.

With three games left to wrap up the first leg of 2017/2018 season, Stimela are now favourites to close the first chapter of an intriguing league at the top. Highlanders enjoyed a fine start to the season with seven wins and two losses. Their defeats came against Sua Flamingoes and Morupule Wanderers.

 Highlanders’ weekend win means the leaders stretch their lead at the top to five points after Wanderers lost 4-0 to Sua Flamingoes. Chasing Motlakase Power Dynamos’ game was cancelled due to a heavy down pour. The Palapye side, however, has two games in hand.

Flamingoes and Great North Tigers, who are fourth and fifth respectively, will look to reignite their fading title hopes in the last three games.

Sua have been winless in the past three fixtures before redeeming themselves with a win over the weekend.

They trail by six points and the win could kick-start a bright period. With their win against Maphatshwa, GNT will also have their sights set on closing the gap on the leaders.

Maphatshwa and Francistown City Greens are languishing at the bottom of the log, with their survival chances looking slim. Nico United, Mahalapye Hotspurs and Real Movers will have to improve if they do not want to play a role in the relegation quagmire.

Majombolo earned their second win of the campaign after beating Green Lovers, while Hotspurs’ ship further hit a snag following a loss to Calendar Stars.

Debswana First Division North chairperson, Mpenzeni Sambandawe said he was impressed with the level of competition since the league began.

“In the games played so far, a person can realise that the teams are competitive. The most interesting thing this season is that we have a lot of derbies. There is Phikwe, Palapye and Mahalapye just to mention a few. Things have changed, we have a lot of people paying attention to our league this season compared to the past,” Sambandawe said.