08 Feb 2016

With only nine games remaining, the beMOBILE premiership race continues to get hotter every weekend. Though quite a few teams still have a mathematical chance of claiming the throne, the focus seems to be more on Township Rollers and Orapa United and to some extent, the defending champions, Mochudi Centre Chiefs.

The top three teams are so far the only teams with a high scoring rate with Rollers leading with a goal difference of 37 followed by Chiefs with 28. Orapa United remains at 23.

Before the weekend games, the closest team to the top three had a goal difference as low as five, which was a massive gap, but following the windfall they had on Saturday against Motlakase Power Dynamos, BDF XI have since registered a double figure at goal difference of 10.

After week 21, Rollers continued their grip on the top spot after they came back from Francistown with three points courtesy of a four nil drubbing of Sankoyo Bush Bucks.

The win now puts Popa at 48 points, two points ahead of their closest rivals, Orapa United who were surprisingly held to a goalless draw at home by Galaxy FC, ensuring they lose the joint leadership of the premiership.

Orapa United were the only team in the top five bracket to drop points as third placed and defending champions, Mochudi Centre Chiefs disposed of Gaborone United 2-0 on Friday under the floodlights at the Molepolole Sports Complex.
The win ensured that Chiefs remain on course to leapfrog The Ostriches should the latter stutter in their next two games.  BDF XI and Police XI’s win also ensured tough competition among the top five.

Miscellaneous and Gaborone United, who have been among the top teams since the league started, stumbled as they gave away maximum points. At 32 and 29 points respectively however, the two are not too far from the top five.
A draw away to Orapa United kept rookies, Galaxy FC in the top eight with 30 points, a point ahead of Extension Gunners who also won this weekend.

Down the log, Gilport Lions welcomed Green Lovers of Serowe at the Molepolole Sports Complex, and the Lions traded places with their visitors after a 2-1 win. Lions have now accumulated 23 points, two points ahead of Lovers.
Meanwhile the trio, BR Highlanders, Motlakase and FC Satmos have reached a stage where they play with one eye keeping a check on how the other performs.

They are so far the only teams in the premiership that have registered lower points than the actual games they played.

Motlakase is the better of the troubled trio at 16 points, and the Mahalapye based outfit has registered the most draws in the league at 10, which perhaps gives them hope that they are not far from rehabilitation.

FC Satmos on the other hand, seems to be already preparing for life back in the dusty streets of Selebi Phikwe. With six points from 21 games, The Cheetahs have already conceded a massive 48 goals against just thirteen they scored. Ends