11 Mar 2016

As the second leg of the Mascom Top 8 semifinals return to Francistown this weekend,  without doubt tonight’s fixture between BDF XI and Orapa United will be the most closely contested looking at the slim score margin realised in the first encounter.

However, it goes without saying  that most eyes will be on the fixture between Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs tomorrow. Since the inception of the cup a few seasons back, the Kgatleng side have never won it despite being perennial regulars in the competition. Two times they fell at the quarter final stage while two times they stumbled at the semifinal.

Magosi however, will have to pull a Houdini act to break the jinx they have failed to break for four consecutive seasons. But against a team of Rollers’ calibre, the mountain seems too steep to climb.

Chiefs will need to win the game by a three-goal margin to turn the game in their favour and proceed to the next stage. Despite the margin being healthy in favour of Rollers, coach Mark Harrison said they would not leave anything to chance.

“We gave ourselves a good chance of proceeding to the next stage of the competition because of the convincing score, but against a team of the magnitude of Chiefs, you never know. They are as capable of scoring three goals like us. So we will have to be careful. I expect them to take the battle to us and so I expect an epic battle come Saturday,” he said.

Harrison also said that hard tackling midfielder Ofentse Nato will be available for selection. The player has been at the centre of controversy since the first leg as Chiefs protested that he was illegally registered.

The Zebras Vice captain was later exonerated by the Botswana Premier League Disciplinary Committee, making him eligible to play. Harrison also indicated that most of his squad is injury free.

Harrison’s fear is Mike Sithole’s optimism. 

The Chiefs gaffer also believes they are capable or reversing the game in their favour.

“As a coach, you have to always be positive and confident, and my boys are equally confident and we are looking forward to the game,” he said.

Sithole said he will be fielding more or less the same team that he used in his 1-0 win over Orapa United last weekend, even though he decried unavailability of strikers.

BDF XI and Orapa United will open the weekend festivities when they clash tonight and the advantage is slightly tilted in favour of Matebele courtesy of an away goal as they managed to hold the Ostriches to a one-all draw.

As a result of the slight margin, the two teams are expected to take the fight to each other as they both  have a chance.

The BDF XI and Orapa United game starts at 8pm while Rollers and Chiefs will lock horns at 4pm. ENDS