Psychological boost as leaders falter

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Tuesday November 30, 2010 00:00

Though there are no changes at the top, the losses will certainly be a confidence booster to opponents because it has been proved that the leaders are not invincible. At the same time, the losses are a psychological setback for Rollers and ECCO who have been riding the crest of the waves with unbeaten records to show for it.

Both sides went into the weekend fixtures as favourites but got a rude awakening as Nico United and Police XI pulled unexpected shocks. ECCO received a 3-1 lashing at the hands of Nico in Francistown on Sunday while Police XI handed a 2-1 defeat to the log leaders at UB Stadium. The last time Rollers lost a match was at the beginning of the second round last season against Mochudi Centre Chiefs. The loss against Police came just a week after they demolished Notwane 4-0 in a game in which they increased their lead at the top by four points. The gap between them and ECCO however still remains the same but Chiefs increased their chance of a Premier League title with a victory over TASC on Saturday. It will be interesting to see how both Rollers and ECCO fare in their two remaining games of the first round. Rollers are left with TASC and Uniao Flamengo Santos while ECCO are still to play Miscellaneous and Gaborone United (GU).

Chiefs have now leap-frogged GU to third position on the log with 24 points from 13 games. GU failed to beat Premier League rookies, Miscellaneous, and dropped two valuable points, which would have taken them to 25 with a game in hand. It was their fifth draw of the season. Meanwhile, Police XI's victory over Rollers has taken them to fifth position while TAFIC's 1-0 win over Extension Gunners moved them to sixth. TAFIC who struggled at the beginning of the season are starting to show improvement and the fact that they can collect points away from home shows what former Notwane mentor, Paul Moyo, has done with his young team despite the financial limitations. After losing to TAFIC, Gunners have now slipped to position eight. At the basement of the log, Motlakase's 1-0 victory over Balck Peril has taken them to position 14. They have been rock-bottom for a very long time but their second victory of the season has hauled them out of the dungeon. Miscellaneous are now languishing at the bottom of the log despite their 1-1 draw against heavyweights, GU. They face ECCO in the next fixture in Selebi-Phikwe. TASC are lying in position 15 and face Rollers at Molepolole Sports Complex in their next game.