Kumakwane Checkers face reality

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Friday July 25, 2008 00:00

 

It has now become a norm to hear a team official, captain or coach echoing the words: 'We are not here to add up the numbers but to compete and win things'.

Only a few have been able to live up to this promise and even fewer clubs have managed to go all the way to win a title soon after promotion. Township Rollers under the late Banks Panene is one of the few who achieved remarkable success immediately after gaining promotion from the First Division to the Premier League, winning the Coca-Cola Cup and league double.

Kumakwane Checkers just recently got promoted to the First Division South League. Like many clubs, they believe that their promotion was no fluke and they have what it takes to sustain themselves in the upper division. But unlike many who often promise scintillating performances, the Kweneng side are realistic in their dreams. They appreciate the fact that football in Division Two is totally different to the one played in the First Division. Coach Tsaone Mutsuminyana said that while it is his dream to keep the team in the First Division longer, he understands that the 'knives are out for his side'.

'Obviously, we would like to see ourselves winning games here, but we have to accept that the clubs we will be playing against in the new season are technically and tactically superior.

We are from the Division Two league, which is most dominated by very young players who often play to appease their supporters while the players in the First Division have been taught to be results-oriented,' Motsuminyana asserted.

He acknowledged that his side needs reinforcements to sustain the pressure in their new surroundings. He expects the First Division to be tougher than it was in the last season.

'Our job will be made difficult, especially by the fact that every new season, different teams set their goals higher and that means stiffer competition in all the leagues. So for a team that just graduated, it becomes even more difficult as compared to those who have been there before because they would need just a little time adjusting to the new pace while for us, the gap will be huge to fill and it could take months before we finally settle in,' he said.

Motsuminyana noted that he needed a few players to get his squad in shape. He said the team needs to sign a goalkeeper, a holding midfielder and two strikers. Against Mochudi Buffaloes in the Coca-Cola Cup game on Sunday, Checkers created chances, but lacked the killer instinct and ultimately bowed out 2-0. 

Checkers are not in the First Division by luck. They had a good season capped by a brilliant performance at the relegation play-offs, which they won ahead of Ramotswa- based, Letlapeng FC.

'Our play-offs performance was not a fluke. We prepared well, playing friendly games against Mogoditshane Fighters and BDF XI. Our seven wins and the draw against Letlapeng were not by default. But after our loss in the Coke Cup, I realised that things will be totally different in the new season. But we still have time to prepare and I plan to play tough teams who can beat us so we can see where we are lacking,' Motsuminyana said.