04 Feb 2016

It will be all out attack when the diamond teams scuffle for supremacy during a beMOBILE Premiership game at Itekeng Stadium on Saturday February 6.

Diamond mine clubs, Orapa United and Galaxy both need three points, but pressure will be mostly on Orapa United who are on the second spot, level with log leaders and title contenders, Township Rollers.

Orapa United, buoyed by an unbeaten record at home this season, will need maximum points after forfeiting two points in their previous encounter with Gunners.
Nonetheless, Galaxy on the 7th spot on the table with 29 points would come out with the aim to maintain the top eight.

“Orapa United has an upper hand and pressure is on them to win the game at all cost,” soccer analyst, Jimmy George opined.

George is of the view that the Orapa side could handle pressure as their technical bench has experience to deal with the pressure of any match. He said Madinda Ndlovu is one of the most decorated coaches and has won titles with big teams. He added that he could absorb any pressure that comes with the weekend game.

He added that Zachariah Mudzazi, one of Ndlovu’s assistants, has experienced such pressure when he was a player.  He said Ndlovu has built a formidable side from ordinary players at Orapa United, and that his team has a solid defence as evidenced by conceding few goals in the league. On the other hand, George said Galaxy is a tricky side that can beat Orapa United on the day if the players could come with their heads up.

Ndlovu, will go into the game without the services of Wabo Mogabe and skipper, Thabang ‘Marco’  Mosige, who are both injured while Ronald  Chikomo and Olekantse Mambo are on suspension. However, he believes that  they have adequate manpower to come up with a good team. He said they are prepared to battle with Galaxy and to keep their unbeaten run at home.

Since it is a Debswana derby, he said what drives them to win the game is that they are older than Galaxy in terms of premiership. “ We will show our little brothers how football is played” he stated. Ndlovu said their spot in the log does not put them in any pressure as they do not plan with impulses.

He said they have drawn a season plan to take each game as it comes and will retrospect and evaluate their performance at the end of the season. His players, he said, have a lot of character and it is that character that gives them strength to go an extra mile.

Ndlovu said the degree to which his players are synchronizing with his philosophy ‘power football’ is overwhelming.  He said their training sessions are going well as almost all training facilities are at the team’s disposal and that Orapa mine executives are always supportive.

He also emphasised that at Orapa United they put the welfare of players first. ENDS