14 Apr 2015

Palapye United (PU) booked a berth in the promotional playoffs for the Debswana First Division North league after winning the Tswapong Regional division one league.

PU sealed its place in the playoffs by crushing title rivals, Sefhare, Seven Stars 4-1 in their last match of the campaign on April 12.

PU was in mean mood with Mmoloki Rakadi and Oduetse Thupimpe scoring two goals apiece while Boipelo Oaitse netted Stars’ consolation goal. The victory ensured that PU completed the season with 40 points after 12 wins from a total of 18 matches.

The team suffered just two defeats the whole season, with their miserly defence letting in 14 goals only while their attackers scored 36. Stars could only garner 35 points and finished in position two.

Elated PU chairman, Setlalekgosi Gate said competition was tough but his team’s consistency and ability to beat their direct rivals tilted the scale in their favour.

“We strengthened the team with new players before starting the campaign because it was our mission to win this league. The fact that we thrashed Moshopha Tigers 4-0, which is one of the toughest teams in the region, in their own backyard showed how strong we were,” Gate said.

PU was a model of consistency losing just one match in the first round and another one in the second round. Gate said another factor that helped his team to be successful was the fact that they managed to buy some players with first division experience from Palapye All Stars which campaigns in the Debswana First Division North league.

The confident chairman said his team would sail through at the playoffs and win promotion to the first division next season. PU would face Real Movers from Selebi Phikwe Region, Sowa Flamingoes from the Francistown Region, and a team from the Central Region during the eastern block playoffs that would be held in Selebi-Phikwe. Ends