First Division promotion battle heats up

Koketso Kgoboge | Friday November 24, 2017 12:37

Highlanders have spent seven of the eight weeks in the driving seat. But they are not sitting comfortably, with Motlakase Power Dynamos and Morupule Wanderers breathing heavily on their necks. The Palapye outfits are two points adrift on position two and three respectively.

Highlanders suffered a second defeat of the season when they fell 2-0 to Wanderers last weekend. Their first defeat was to Sua Flamingoes three weeks ago.

Highlanders’ past defeat was a blessing to Motlakase who could assume the leadership if they win their game in hand. Their week five fixture against Francistown City Greens was postponed due to lack of venue.

Both Motlakase and cross-town rivals Wanderers could leapfrog Highlanders on Saturday with the leaders only in action on Sunday.

Wanderers travel to Sua Flamingoes on Saturday in a clash of the mining sides. The meeting of the two financially cushioned sides headlines week nine. The visitors come into the fixture buoyed by a 2-0 demolition of Highlanders, their second consecutive win, after beating Maphatshwa a fortnight ago. In Flamingoes, they meet a side that is blowing hot and cold. Flamingoes promised sparks after a sumptuous business in the transfer window, but they are still struggling for the right combinations. They have fallen six points adrift at position four.

The Soda Ash mining town outfit is winless in the past three fixtures. They have drawn two and lost the recent fixture by a solitary goal to struggling Mahalapye United Hotspurs.

Although Wanderers hold a slight advantage over Flamingoes, they are sure to find a hard nut to crack in Sowa Town. Flamingoes have not lost at the Sowa Stadium this season and the best opponents escaped with was a draw. The last meeting between the two ended in a stalemate at the same venue. The two sides’ last meeting in Pilikwe did not end well, with reports of violence. The past incidents may lead to a heated affair in Sowa.

In Palapye, Motlakase face a tricky fixture against Real Movers. Since their arrival two seasons ago, Movers have established themselves as a giant slayer. Last season Movers twice refused to be intimidated against Motlakase, holding them to a stalemate home and away. Leaders Highlanders face a mountain to climb against Francistown City Greens on Sunday. They were held to a stalemate last time around here although they edged City Greens 1-0 in Mahalapye. A battle of former Premiership sides Green Lovers and Nico United in Serowe is another fixture to look out for. It is the attacking flair of Majombolo up against patient build-ups of the young Green Submarines. In others matches, Mahalapye United Hotspurs travel to Calendar Stars on Saturday and Great North Tigers welcome Maphatshwa on Sunday.