Time running out for Naughty Boys?

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Friday February 26, 2010 00:00

 

'We have not been playing very well recently.

We thought securing the services of Ringo (Botlhe Rankgomo) would improve our fortunes but that has not happened. This, however, does not mean that we expect him to shoulder the responsibility of taking the team back to the Premier League alone. Everybody is starting to get frustrated because obviously the aim was to take the team to the top and when we struggle, you should expect everybody to feel pressure,' Setswe said.

Dinoko who dropped from the elite league at the end of last season have been struggling while the likes of newly-promoted Black Peril, Letlapeng FC and Prisons XI showed clear intentions of getting promotion.

The Tlokweng side has lost its last three games against Mogoditshane Fighters (1-0), Mochudi Buffaloes (1-0) and Masitaoka (3-1).

'Without making any excuses, the fixtures have been taxing for us and I just wish we were meeting a different team from Letlapeng this weekend.

But they are chasing the league and any team wishing to improve on their performance and standing on the log have to beat them.

We have to face them and put aside our past performances and focus on moving up the ladder,' he said.

Currently stuck at position 10, Naughty Boys have only accumulated 16 points, 10 points behind leaders Black Peril. They have played 14 games and are left with eight.

'Mathematically, we still have a chance of returning to the Premier League, at least through the play-offs if we do not qualify automatically.

I know some people could say this is a crazy idea but even the top teams are not assured of promotion yet,' he said.

Three seasons ago, Naughty Boys under former player Mooketsi 'Entsho' Motlhagodi surprised everybody, kicking-off the second round at position nine and going all the way to win the championship and promotion to the elite league.

At the time, many had concluded that Killer Giants then campaigning in the First Division were going all the way.

But as the promotion battle intensified, the Ramotswa side dropped points while Naughty Boys steadily went up the ladder.

In the last game the Tlokweng side needed all the three points to qualify while their opponents needed only a point.

In a dramatic turn of events, they scored three goals without a reply from their opponents. But can they repeat the feat with a new coach and a new environment?