Police XI lead the First Division South League as they eye a comeback after their relegation to the second-tier last season. Prisons XI on the other hand have become a yo-yo team and this season their promotion chances are slim as they sit seventh, five points above the relegation positions. The last of the remaining institution teams, BDF XI, look destined for the drop. It will be the first time the team drops to the lower league in their 47-year history. The team finds itself in poor form, from a side that competed in the CAF inter-club competitions a decade ago in 2015 to a team staring at relegation this campaign. BDF XI find themselves on the 14th spot and three points away from safety. The team has their lowest win return as they collected maximum points on just three occasions and dropped points in 18 games thus far. Carmo Boys, despite their defensive reputation, have conceded 23 times, the fifth highest in the league. The coaching changes have not helped the side in recent times. Nelson Setshwane is said to be on sick leave as Keikothae 'Chamlek' Bothoko holds the reigns in the meantime. The issues seem to develop from the boardroom as this week. The club has reportedly slapped chairperson, Nelson Gabofiwe, with a suspension. In a recent interview, Bothoko acknowledged the team's problems emanate from all those involved including the coaching staff, players and the administration. "We have a lot of problems and as I see it, at times it is the players, at times it is us the coaches, and at times it is the administration. When things are not going well then we need to sit down and fix, but our team has a lot of problems. The coach has been on sick leave, but he is about to return, and we may feel that it is one of the things that are costing the team. I am not saying that those standing in are not capable, but there are a lot of issues," said Bothoko.
The team's recent form is also not motivating for their fan base as they have only won once in the last five games and lost on four occasions. Bothoko remains hopeful that the team will dodge the dreaded axe. BDF XI is still to face Flamengo Santos, Security Systems, Chadibe FC, and Nico United who remain in and around the relegation positions. "If I look at the remaining games, I think that is where we are going to save our season and that is where we are going to collect points and we are going to fight until we avoid relegation. If you look at the teams at the bottom, the difference is two or three points, and like I had said the other time, when we play top teams, they have the confidence already. But it is a different scenario when playing lower teams, the teams that are struggling," he said.
BDF XI will extend their trophy-less run to 11 years. The team was booted out of the Orange FA Cup by Security Systems at the weekend. They have won the league on two occasions, the first in 1981, and the last time they lifted the league trophy was more than two decades ago in 2004. BDF XI has competed in CAF club competitions on four occasions, twice in each of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. In their last continental adventure, Young Africans of Tanzania booted them out in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2015. The army side has produced countless colossus figures in the domestic games in the likes of history making coach, Stanley Tshosane, Zebras stalwarts, Mompati Thuma, Modiri Marumo, Patrick Motsepe, Kabelo Seakanyeng, and Lemponye Tshireletso.
