TAFIC's berth in the Top 8 will be determined by two things - winning against Nico and the other Top 8 contenders Township Rollers losing their game against Lobtrans Gunners. Rollers are sitting on the eighth spot with 39 points while TAFIC are in ninth place with 37 points. What made finishing among the top eight exciting for this season is that unconfirmed reports say that there is a new lucrative cup that would be bank-rolled by one of the country's leading banks that would feature the Premier League's cream.
According to TAFIC coach Godfrey Tamirepi, people are crying wolf unnecessarily. "Finishing in the top eight should not put us under pressure. We have our objectives that we set when the season started and we have not changed those. We are still following them and I am happy that we have succeeded even if we still have a game to play," he told Mmegi sport yesterday. Tamirepi noted that the objective was to avoid relegation, adding that, the issue of having a top 8 cup came just a month ago and it would not be right for people to now shift the goal posts and put his team under pressure to qualify. "Indeed it would be lovely to qualify for top 8. We are going to play this game to win. We need three points from the game," emphasised the Zimbabwean coach. He, however, said that the outcome of Rollers' game would also have a bearing on his team's chances of finishing eighth on the log.
Tamirepi said he has signed a three-year contract with TAFIC and each of the three years has its own set objectives. "The first year the objective was to take TAFIC from the first division to premier league, the second year was to stabilise it in the league, that is avoiding relegation and for next year we will sit down with management and set the target," he disclosed. On injuries, he noted that Nicholas Gora would have to pass a late fitness test. Also Shepherd Mosekgwa will not be available for the game as he is on a red card suspension.
However, reports from Francistown have it that times are tough at the Matjimenyenga based side. Mmegi Sport learnt that TAFIC is so broke that they are even grappling with finding money to finance their trip to here. "They have not even paid the players and coach. Their May salaries and the date now is June 7th," said a source yesterday. When quizzed about what the situation is in the clubhouse, TAFIC's Public Relations Officer Jones Mosweu acknowledged that indeed they are in a financial crisis but said it is nothing to warrant pressing of panic buttons. "Lack of finances is an issue that is there with most of Botswana teams due to lack of sponsorship. It might be true that we are having money problems and have not yet paid the players but it has not reached a crisis situation yet. We are still making ends meet and soon we will be paying them", he told Mmegi Sport. He said their players and coach understand the situation they are in. "They know that we can not say we do not have money while we have and they understand the situation," he explained.
For his part, Nico's coach Peter Muchina expects to have a last hurray, as this is his last game as United's head coach. There has been a change of guard at United after former Township Rollers' coach Madinda Ndlovu was recently employed by the copper-nickel mining town side as head coach. Muchina will move to assist the new coach. However, the rumour mill has it around town that the roping of Ndlovu has stirred some discomfort in the team. Word has it that Matlhogonolo "Paymaster" Dintwa who has been working with Muchina in the technical department did not take kindly the idea of shifting him and Muchina from the coaching reigns. Those in the know say that Dintwa feels that he has worked his fingers to the bone to try and save the team from the relegation zone and after succeeding team management want to dump him just like that.
Never the less, Muchina explained that his charges are ready to take Tafic head on and for him the better team will emerge victorious. "The squad is ready and we are waiting for Tafic," said the man of few words. On injuries, Muchina said only Joseph "Wagga" Moatshe looks a doubtful starter.
