The rise and fall of Nico

MQONDISI DUBE
Correspondent | Wednesday December 10, 2008 00:00

 

However, this season, Nico is in big trouble and might need outside intervention to avoid the relegation dog-fight or worse. The rot at Nico was exposed on Saturday in the 6-1 hiding by the visiting Gaborone United (GU) in an arena that Majombolo made into a slaughter-house last season. A few months ago, many teams dreaded a visit to the Selebi-Phikwe Stadium as Nico's dazzling displays captured the imagination of football fans. Rewind to the season ender between Nico United and Extension Gunners.

Majombolo thoroughly outsmarted a Gunners' side that had gone into the game in imperious form, but left dry following a 2-0 thumping.

But how the mighty of last season have fallen?  Majombolo's impressive run last season has been spoilt by a horrendous performance that culminated in the embarrassing 6-1 defeat at the hands of be Mobile log leaders, GU. The defeat came a week after a 5-3 mauling at the hands of ECCO City Greens.

The Nico faithful must be wondering what has hit a team that deftly went about its business last season, collecting a sizeable number of admirers along the way. The attacking flair, coupled with unrivalled commitment from a bunch of largely unknown players has suddenly evaporated.

The same team, under the same coach and administration has crumbled like a deck of cards, a mere five games into the season. If anything, Majombolo has emerged early favourites for the relegation chop alongside Mogoditshane Fighters. This is sad news for a town teeming with talent but finds its soccer teams on the wrong end of the table.

Satmos, perennial underachievers in the Premier League before their demotion, are struggling in the First Division, while Red Lions' future increasingly looks bleak. Mosquito, a side that campaigned in the Premier League side, before a quick fall from grace, is hardly noticeable in the lower rungs of football.

Selebi-Phikwe teams are notorious for conceding heavy defeats, with the 9-1 drubbing of both Mosquito and Satmos still alive in the minds of many. Satmos were once given a 7-0 hiding by BDF XI while Nico were smacked 5-1 and 6-2 by Police XI in back-to-back fixtures. Last weekend, a tamed Nico surrendered as early as the 14th minute against GU. It was an ordinary GU performance against an extraordinarily dreadful Nico. It was a lifeless display that even left GU coach, Mike Sithole wondering what has hit the side which was so brilliant at home and on the road in the last campaign.

Coach Madinda Ndlovu, is on his way out and last Saturday, frustration was written all over his face, as his side meekly surrendered. The Nico administration continues to play down evident unrest within the camp. The players' body language tell the whole story.

There was no commitment, no zeal. Captain Master Masiku, an inspirational player of undoubted quality, was terribly off form just like his troops. Tricky midfielder, Odumetse 'Mascom' Rakoma was a bundle of nerves and committed schoolboy blunders. The whole team was so pathetic that GU goalkeeper Raphael Nthwane had nothing to do save for three shots on target, one which resulted in a goal.