Mouthwatering Coke ties beckon

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Tuesday February 16, 2010 00:00

Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Extension Gunners, Township Rollers and TAFIC are all through and will be joined by former Premier League champions, ECCO City Greens and Mogoditshane Fighters. Defending champions Uniao Flamengo Santos and Gaborone United (GU) are still to play their matches to determine the last two slots for the quarters.

The two sides were involved in African club competitions over the weekend and the Coca-Cola Cup committee will meet this week to decide the new dates for the match between GU and Great North Tigers (GNT) and Santos and Prisons XI. 

Be MOBILE Premier league leaders, Township Rollers narrowly edged First Division side, Miscellaneous 2-1 in Serowe on Sunday while Chiefs and Gunners were emphatic winners against Letlapeng and Mathaithai respectively. Chiefs won 5-1 while Gunners dispatched Mathaithai 3-1 in Molepolole on Friday.

Both Rollers and Chiefs, who are involved in a fierce,  race for the league title are aiming for a double. Rollers coach, Rahman Gumbo has maintained that they take every game as it comes and hopes to do well in every competition. Rollers hold the record of winning the cup more than any other club after five victories.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, ECCO City Greens beat three time champions, BDF XI 1-0 to go through. ECCO has been blowing hot and cold in the current season, and with the league seemingly out of their reach, they would turn their focus to winning the Coca-Cola Cup. The closest ECCO came to win the cup was in 2007 when they lost to meat rivals BMC in the finals. It was the same year the Francistown side won the league.

Fighters have become the first lower division side to make it to this year's quarterfinals. Fighters, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, saw off the challenge of Police XI, winning 3-1 following a penalty shoot-out last Thursday after the clubs were tied 1-1 in regulation time. Fighters have won the cup three times while still playing top-flight football under the tutelage of coach, David Bright. TAFIC, who have been finding the going tough in the league managed to sail through after beating Nico United 2-1.