07 Aug 2016

Three Debswana First Division North giants and one beMobile Premiership team played a preseason tourny over the weekend. 

Ecco City Greens, Tafic and Great North Tigers (GNT) of Francistown hosted Mascom Top 8 winners, Orapa United, at the old Francistown stadium on Saturday.

Tafic played to a one-all draw with GNT in the first game before Ecco and Orapa drew 2-2 in the second match.

In the third game, Ecco  fielded mostly its reserve side that  thumped GNT 4-0.

 Orapa clobbered Tafic 5-0.

GNT did not have the chance to the star-studded side Orapa.

With Orapa coach, Madinda Ndlovu, mingling on the stands with supporters, his assistant Zachariah Mudzadzi took over the gaffer job occupying the coach’s seat and ensured they left Francistown without a loss.

Orapa fielded some of their new catches such as bully striker Omaatla Kebatho, who has just returned from South Africa after a stint at Vasco Da Gama.

They also had right back Obonye Moswate from Township Rollers and former Mochudi Centre Chiefs hard working midfielder Tendai Nyumasi. The Ghetto teams also had a chance to try out some of their potential new players as they used the one day tournament as trials for some of the players they might sign for the new season.

Tafic saw the return of veteran goalkeeper, Mmoloki ‘Wrist’ Mmusi on the bench as one of the coaches to help drill the Ndipe di kupe youngsters, who have been struggling since they suspended their coaches Atshele Molapi and Mmoloki ‘BB’ Sechele towards the end of last season.

Texan Phiri of Ecco used used some of his players who were usually bench warmers. and see who can be up for the job this time around as they try their best to gain promotion to the top league after missing out by a whisker last season.

GNT on one hand also used the opportunity to try out new faces as veteran players such as Tamocha Bedi look set to hang up their boots in the not so distant future.

The tournament was organised by Ecco and did not have a full house attendance usually expected at such games, especially with the presence of Ghetto crowd pullers, Tafic as well as the team of the moment, Orapa United taking part. ENDS