10 Sep 2015

A yearning to correct a stuttering start to the 2015-16 be Mobile Premiership season, pride and prejudice are some of the ingredients that will fuel the titanic contest between Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United at the National Stadium tomorrow. 

Kickoff is 8pm. The two clubs have had an inconsistent start to the season, an anomaly the pre-season title hopefuls will want to correct.  Pride will drive the two sides to seek to emerge from such a high profile fixture with bragging rights.

Reds fans are prejudiced against Magosi after the latter plucked prized GU asserts Jackie Mothatego and Kaelo ‘Tshifiwa’ Kgaswane in the off season. Therefore, a need to exact revenge could add to an electric atmosphere.

Like the status-conscious character Mr Darcy in the British author Jane Austen’s classic novel; Pride and Prejudice, a man who sought honour among the societal upper class, the landed gentry of the British regency, Chiefs and GU are clubs which historically count themselves among the football elite.

Magosi-Maaparankwe, the regal defending league champions and the Money Machine, the reigning Mascom Top 8 winners certainly have what it takes to excite on the day.

Having begun the season with impressive victories against BR Highlanders (5-0) and Motlakase Power Dynamos (3-0), Chiefs went on to lose to Sankoyo Bush Bucks (2-1), draw with Gilport Lions (0-0), before Wednesday night’s narrow 1-0 win against FC Satmos in Selebi Phikwe.

Dirang Moloi’s winner against Satmos came in injury time and this could be the timely morale boost Chiefs needed going into three potentially tricky fixtures this month against GU, then highflying Extension Gunners and Miscellaneous.

The Reds’ sole win came on day one against Gilport Lions (2-1), before registering a 1-1 draw with Satmos, and 2-1 losses against Orapa United and Extension Gunners.

Chiefs tend to play a good passing game in their build up play, but can be exposed if they play sides, which are robust, press a high line and attack them with pace. GU could be best served by a ‘first man on the ball’ approach, because if they sit back and allow Chiefs to pass the ball, they could be in for a long night.

Mothatego has settled in well into the Chiefs midfield, and seems to have a new lease of life, displaying his passing range in a team that suits his play.  Alongside Lesego Galenamotlhale, they could win the midfield battle for coach Mike ‘Dubula’ Sithole who also has the option of bringing in the recently signed duo Moloi and Lesego Molemogi.

The evergreen veteran Pontsho Moloi, Mkhanyiseli Siwahla and Ayanda ‘Senatla’ Molefe can take the game to GU and involve proven goal scorer Kekaetswe ‘Mara’ Moloi. GU defenders Gaopatwe ‘Shoes’ Seosenyeng, Katlego ‘Sissoko’ Koobake and Godwin Osei-Bonsu will have to be alert in protecting Goitseone Phoko’s goal.

GU mentor, Rahman Gumbo will want his side to be combative on the day.  The skillful Mpho Kgaswane is one of the most gifted players in the game, and together with Kgololo Kgogobi and Mandla ‘Spiriki’ Mgadla, he could assist GU creativity. 

Moyagoleele will also hope the diminutive Ntensang ‘Mirror’ Simanyana will be in his element, and offer the midfield creative spark for Namibian striker Benson Shilongo to trouble the Chiefs rearguard.

Tonight (Friday), Extension Gunners travel to Serowe to face Miscellaneous, kickoff is 7pm.  Pio Paul’s Gunners side lost 3-1 to Madinda Ndlovu’s Orapa United on Tuesday, their first loss of the season, and Mapantsula, who begun the league with four straight wins will be eager to get back to winning ways.

In Miscellaneous they face another on form side; Tse Nala are unbeaten, with three wins and a draw so far, and they will want victory in front of their home crowd.

Police XI play FC Satmos.  On Wednesday night Police looked impressive in dispatching of Gilport Lions 4-1, reducing Kelisitse Gilika’s Lions to cubs, proving who the real Jungle Kings are.

Township Rollers travel to Maun to face Sankoyo Bush Bucks on Saturday (September 12) at 5 pm.  

Also on Saturday (September 12) BR Highlanders host Nico at 3:30pm in Serowe, while BDF XI will be away to Motlakase also at the Serowe Sports Complex at 19:00. 

Sunday(September 13) (3:30pm) will see Green Lovers host Gilport Lions in Serowe, while Orapa United travel to face Jwaneng Galaxy. Ends