19 Apr 2016

Mahalapye based BR Highlanders have been condemned to the dusty first division grounds following their defeat by a solitary goal to Gaborone United.

In a game played at Molepolole Sports Complex on Sunday, Stimela came into the game looking for nothing but a win to keep their chances of survival alive, but after putting up a brave fight, they ultimately succumbed with two minutes of regular time remaining when Namibian international, Benson Shilongo penetrated their defence to score the only goal of the game.

The result means that BR Highlanders have now joined their northern counterparts, FC Satmos to the lower division, leaving only one spot for other relegation candidates.

After the game, the sombre looking BR Highlanders coach, Kabo Dintwa admitted that they came into the game in need of maximum points, but said they have now accepted their fate.Despite the loss, he said they played well against a well-organised opponent. 

Reflecting back on the rest of the season, Dintwa said their relegation was exacerbated by too many draws they registered.The Mahalapye outfit has so far registered 13 draws from 28 games with only two wins, the most famous being against log leaders, Township Rollers early this year.Dintwa said their intention is to make a quick come back to the elite league, but said realistically, this might be a tough call.

“Look, when you relegate to the lower division, you lose the bulk of your squad, about 80 per cent, and this means that when your get there you have to build a new team from scratch, with unknown players and this will make a it a challenge to launch a quick come back,” he said.

Dintwa also said another factor that makes it difficult to retain players are that at the lower division they cannot afford to match premier league teams in as far as players’ salaries are concerned.“Obviously no player will want a cut on their salaries, so most of our good players will be enticed by better pay from premier league teams,” he said.

The relegation of Stimela now leaves the last relegation spot open to about five teams that are expected to fight tooth and nail to avoid the chop.Nico United, Gilport Lions, Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Green Lovers and Motlakase Power Dynamos still linger in the drop zone as they are all separated by four points, with only two games remaining.

This coming weekend the battle for survival is expected to be as mouthwatering as the hunt for league honours between Orapa United and Township Rollers.ENDS