Ex-top flight sides add to First Division North intrigue
Olefile Serokolo | Friday September 1, 2017 14:03
ECCO City Greens
Home ground: Francistown Old Stadium
Coach: Atshele ‘Air’ Molapi
It has been long since Mamoja tasted Premiership football. They are optimistic about a return to the Premiership after keeping their squad from last season intact. Just like TAFIC’s successful ‘Operation Gwilila’, Mamoja Diskie have coined their own, ‘Operation Success’. ECCO public relations officer, Sylvester Patella has promised Mamoja supporters a fruitful season. “We are going back where we belong. Our players are fit and they have been with the team for the past two seasons. They know what we expect from them and they have all promised to take the club back to the BTC premiership,” he said.
Nico United
Home ground: Sam Sono Stadium
Coach: Peter Muchina
The First Division newcomers will be looking to bounce back immediately. Majombolo were relegated last season and followed the footsteps of Satmos and Mosquito. Nico United and Real Movers are the last hope for the ‘smoke town’ as Satmos have followed Mosquito to even lower divisions. Nico United public relations officer, Mogomotsi ‘Ace’ Orapeleng said they are working hard to bring the team back to the Premiership. He said they have to take the team back to where it belongs against all odds. “Every Selebi-Phikwe resident should get behind this project. If we can manage to bring Nico back, that will bring life to Phikwe. The team has new recruits who are gelling well. We have accepted that we are in the First Division and we are working hard,” Orapeleng said.
Mahalapye United Hotspurs
Home ground: Mahalapye
Coach: Not yet confirmed
Mahalapye United Hotspurs were relegated from the BTC Premiership only a season after their promotion. Just like other teams, the Mahalapye giants will be looking to bounce back to the elite league. It will be an exciting derby when they meet their village rivals, BR Highlanders. Their public relations officer, Boniface Disho said their preparations started late due to their failure to form a quorum at the annual general assembly (AGM). “We started our preparations late. Most of the players from the previous season are to be released. We do not have a budget to sustain their demands as we are a community-run team. We are appealing to the business community to come on board to assist the team as our vision is to bounce back to the elite league. We only lacked motivation hence we relegated. Mahalapye United Hotspurs is a brand that cannot be ignored by the people of Mahalapye,” Disho said.
Green Lovers FC
Home ground: Serowe Sports Complex
Coach: Othusitse Kootswele
Just like Nico United, ‘The Green Marines’ will look for an immediate return to the premiership. Green Lovers, who played with a youthful squad got relegated last season and will be looking to use their Premiership experience to beat their opponents. Although relegated, Lovers played an entertaining brand of football. The Serowe-based outfit have lost Malvin Chipunza and Bathani Masika who joined Security Systems and Francistown-based Calendar Stars respectively. The club will be a force to reckon if they can be able to retain the services of their influential players in Rentse Keakabetse who was the team captain, Matthews Moruti and Tamapo Onkabetse who are said to be with the Football Union of Botswana (FUB).
Motlakase Power Dynamos
Home ground: Palapye Swallows Grounds
Coach: Agang Mogotsi
Motlakase had a good run last season finishing as runners up to TAFIC and qualified for the promotional play-offs where they were beaten by Gabane side, Uniao Flamingo Santos. Chouka Chouka have a competitive squad, a mixture of youth and experience. They look promising to return to the top-flight with the squad they have. The Palapye side have a couple of influential players who can help the team achieve its mandate. Katlego Ralegoreng and Thatayaone Gaokgorwe were some of the players who were influential last season and will be looking forward to continue where they left off.