19 Feb 2015

Mascom Top 8 resumes as the first leg of the semi-finals kick off this weekend at SSKB and National Stadium.

Fireworks are expected on Saturday, February 21 at SSKB in a mouth-watering encounter as sleepers Gaborone United hosts Selebi Phikwe based Nico United.

Moyagoleele as Gaborone United is called by its legion of fans won the lucrative championship in 2013 and would like to redeem their pride.

On the other hand, Nico United, or Majombolo, as the ambassadors of the northern part of the country, would like to continue with their Cinderella run and ultimately make history by clinching the P1 million prize money.

Moyagoleele humiliated another Selebi Phikwe based team, FC Satmos, 7-1 on aggregate to reach the semi-finals and despite their recent performance, they have an upper hand over their opponents.

The Ditakana or Old Naledi based team has been struggling in the league recently, something which should worry coach, Rahman Gumbo, as his team has lost to minnows Sankoyo Bush Bucks before a goalless draw against Nico over the weekend.

Currently GU sits at number four in the league with 35 points from 20 games while Nico sits in the relegation zone at position 14 with 18 points from an equivalent number of games.

The weekend goalless draw means the two teams were equal although the cup tournament calls for a different approach and tactics.

Nico United at the other end are not to be pushed over even though they had been walking on the shadow of death which led to them parting ways with the coach who guided them through the victory over the fancied and dreaded 

Mochudi Centre Chiefs on their way to the semi-final.

Richard Legwaila became an instant celebrity as he netted three goals within a short time, as Majombolo beat Magosi 3-0 in the first leg before Chiefs scored a consolation goal in the return leg.

In another game, it will be a repeat of last year’s finals as holders BDF XI and Township Rollers meet on Sunday at the National Stadium.

BDF XI alias Matebele beat Rollers 2-1 a fortnight ago and history shows that the military men should not be regarded as underdogs as the two teams are at par.

Letang ‘Rasta’ Kgengwenyane has returned to the army camp and the mood is reported to be high as shown by their good run in the league since it resumed this year.

BDF XI, then under the fired coach struggled against Police XI and reached the semi-finals via an away goal rule after the two teams played a 2 and a 1 all draw.

Rollers, or Popa as they are known, have relinquished their top position in the league as their fortunes diminished, having won only one out of four games including the CAF Champions game loss to Kaizer Chiefs.

Their perfect league run was put to a halt by Police XI and it lost to other teams, Centre Chiefs and BDF XI.

Rollers’ gaffer Madinda Ndlovu has just returned from his ‘A’ licence coaching qualification and is focused on turning the teams’ fortunes around.

The Mascom Top 8 championship remains the only trophy that has eluded the decorated coach who has won the league three times in a row.

Due to their schedule which includes CAF Championship, Rollers went on a spending spree during the recent transfer window, roping in experienced players Jerome Ramatlhakwane, Dirang Moloi, Tshepo Motlhabankwe and Noah Maposa.
Rollers trounced Motlakase 8-1 to book a place in the semi-finals.

All games are scheduled to start at 1545 hrs. ENDS