TAFIC head coach, Mandla Mpofu, has urged supporters to brace themselves for a season of transition rather than title dreams, declaring that the Francistown side is firmly in a rebuilding phase.
Mpofu, who succeeded Elias Chinyemba in the off-season, inherits a team that stunned many in the last last campaign by finishing second in the FNB Premiership just six points shy of a historic maiden title.
But with exodus of key players, the gaffer has been quick to cool expectations.
The coach, who has had impressive stints at Masitaoka and Nico United, is now steering a largely new-look TAFIC squad.
The club parted ways with close to 10 first-team regulars in the off-season.
Amongst the casualties of the shake-up are playmaker Theo Shadikong and defender Shanganani Nganda, who joined Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Shaun Phillip, and Thabo Mooketsi, who crossed over to Gaborone United and Manda Nongo, who signed for champions Jwaneng Galaxy.
The league’s top scorer and player of the season, Jean Jeagogo Lwamba, took his trade across the border to Durban City in the South African top flight, whilst skipper Kemoneetswe Mmangwedi followed Chinyemba to Orapa United.
The mass departures have left TAFIC scrambling, and their patchy start to the new season reflects the turbulence. After five games, the side sits 10th on the log with just a single win against newly-promoted Police XI, two draws, and two losses.
Their latest setback came midweek at the hands of record league champions, Township Rollers, who outclassed the Francistown side with a 2-0 win at the GU Stadium.
Rollers struck first in the 14th minute when Utlwanang Ramakgathi’s cross found Godfrey Tauyatswala’s diving header. Omphile Vissagie then sealed the result in the second half with a thunderous long-range strike.
Speaking after the game, Mpofu admitted that facing Rollers so early in the campaign was a daunting task for his rebuilding side.
“I am seeing a good structure, and we will do better, and we will compete. But obviously, the expectations cannot be like last season,” he said.
“We just want to stabilise the team, playing around the top eight or somewhere there, so that we can plan ahead of the next season to see how much we best we can best get to our targets. But for now, we are just building a team that can compete and make sure we are in the top eight; that is what our objectives are.” Whilst TAFIC lick their wounds, Rollers climbed to second on the log, level on 13 points with leaders Jwaneng Galaxy. The former champions, Galaxy, bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 triumph over Extension Gunners.
Elsewhere, Mochudi Centre Chiefs thrashed Police XI 4-0, Orapa United finally clicked into gear with a 3-0 victory over Matebele FC, and Morupule Wanderers brushed aside Black Lions 3-1 in Palapye. Santa Green edged fellow rookies Calendar Stars 1-0 in their Tuesday clash.
