Mwaanga down but not out

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Tuesday July 8, 2008 00:00

 

Prisons XI revived their hopes of getting the last slot in the 16-club Premier League after a 4-3 win over minnows Miscellaneous of Serowe on Sunday.

Former champions, BDF XI lead the charge to get the slot after beating both Prisons XI and Miscellaneous last weekend to get the maximum six points. 'We are now in with a good chance despite falling three points behind BDF XI. We must win our remaining two games in Selebi-Phikwe against these teams. But a lot will depend on what happens in the game between BDF XI and Miscellaneous because we and BDF could end at nine points each if they (BDF) win,' Mwaanga said.

It is for this reason the coach believes his charges need to score more goals so as to finish ahead of BDF XI should both teams end up with the same number of points. 'Miscellaneous have not thrown in the towel, losing these two games does not mean anyone should take them lightly and I know they will want to revenge when we meet them for the second game,' he said.

Mwaanga believes that his side was better than BDF XI on Friday and that had the strikers been in better form, he could have come out victorious. 'We were struggling in front of goal because my strikers had not trained properly after they sustained injuries. Tatenda Mbikiwa, Moses Magwaneng and Kaizer Molapo were all not fit against BDF XI but I was happy that Tatenda was in better shape against Miscellaneous and managed to score a goal,' he said.

Prisons XI were dealt a blow after captain Kabelo Kgosiang was ruled out of last weekend's games because of an ankle injury. The transfer of centre back Oneeleng 'Six' Radikara from Gaborone by the department of prisons has left a void in the team.'Both Kgosiang and Radikara are experienced campaigners and replacing them with new players is not going to be easy.

Chances of Kgosiang recovering before the next games are 50/50 but we really need him to have stability in our defence,' Mwaanga said. He added that while the strike force improved in the game against Miscellaneous, he experienced problems in defence as his opponents managed to score three goals. 'It is a difficult situation.

If you go all out to attack, then you expose yourself at the back but you cannot keep on defending because the goals would not come and there are fewer games,' he said. 

In the second round games in Selebi-Phikwe this weekend, Prisons XI play Miscellaneous, before confronting BDF XI in a game that could effectively determined who wins the play-offs and gets promoted to the Premier League.