Premier League reaches halfway mark

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Friday December 10, 2010 00:00

 

With no outstanding fixtures, all the 16 clubs will have played 15 games at the end of the week.

Despite the shortage of facilities caused by renovation and construction of stadia in Gaborone, Francistown and Lobatse, the Premier League has run smoothly. The clubs have played the same number of games despite a busy international calendar which has seen the Zebras play five games in five months in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Premier League first round ends with some mouth-watering duels. Tomorrow, Mochudi Centre Chiefs host on-form Police XI at the Molepolole Sports Complex. Police XI have won their last two games in which they first shocked leaders, Township Rollers 2-1, thus ending their unbeaten run. They went on to hammer BMC 3-0 last weekend. Chiefs on the other hand conceded a goal in the dying minutes against Notwane to drop two points, which meant that they remained third behind ECCO City Greens.

Rollers who managed a disappointing draw against bottom-placed TASC last weekend welcome Uniao Flamengo Santos at the UB Stadium. The two clubs have been at loggerheads since the season started over two young players, Mogakolodi Ngele and Thato Bolweleng. Rollers wanted to sign the two but the move stalled after Santos raised a complaint with the Premier League Disciplinary Committee over the way Rollers approached the players.

The two players are said to have settled the matter with Santos and could feature against Rollers tomorrow.

Rollers could welcome Sekhana Koko after missing the last three games with an injury.

The biggest match of the weekend will probably be between ECCO City Greens and Gaborone United in Francistown tomorrow. Both ECCO and GU have experienced a slump in the past three games. A draw would further reduce both sides' chances of winning the title. GU recently put four senior players on the transfer list as they attempt to cut their squad. Extension Gunners host Motlakase in Lobatse while BDF XI and TASC clash at the SSKB Stadium.

BMC and Black Peril meet at Otse Police College. Miscellaneous and Notwane will lock horns at Selebi-Phikwe Stadium.

On Sunday, TAFIC welcome Nico United in Francistown in what is expected to be a thriller between the two on-form sides. All games kick off at 3.30pm.