12 Jan 2017

 It goes without saying that almost everything has a nickname. Elite football league teams have not escaped this and BOPA looks at some of the nicknames that often send the fans into wild frenzies when their BTC Premiership sides are on song.

Township Rollers

Probably the most successful team in the country, this team has a fair share of nicknames, with others having started as ‘mottos’ and eventually evolving. They are known as Popa Popa, Morolo o motala, Mapalastina, Mma Masire Boys and the Happy people.
When they are in a mean mood, displaying brilliance on the field, their thousands of supporters cheer them along, alternating in calling this plethora of nicknames between loud sounds of vuvuselas and whistles.

Extension Gunners

This Lobatse side, which possibly enjoys almost similar support if not more with the above Gaborone based side also has many nicknames.
Associated with the Pantsula lifestyle popularized in South Africa, the side is known as Mapantsula, Dlala Tsatsantsa, Ezinmnyama, Guna Guna, Mogobagoba, the Peleng Boys (Peleng is a popular location in Lobatse) and Basimane ba ga Mma Sabera.

Gaborone United

Another Gaborone outfit, Gaborone United is an old time city rival of Rollers but the rivalry has since subsided due to other factors but their league encounters remains the country’s oldest city derby.
They are known as Moyagoleele, The Money Machine, Money Link and Up the Reds, the latter possibly being from their all red kit.
Some of their nicknames, such as Money Machine and Money Link came at a time when they were doing well in domestic cup competitions in the 90s, cashing in the first prize and have since stuck to them though they are lately failing to rake in the cup competition money like back in the days.

Mochudi Centre Chiefs

The Kgatleng outfit, though not based in Mochudi as one would have thought too has a handful of nicknames such as Magosi Maaparankwe, Team ya kwa ga Rra Tsweetswee and being royals they are, praise singers in their supporters are never in shortage.
They are one side, which is famous for singing in ‘Dikhwaere’ mode during their home and away games and have set the example for the other teams to follow.

BDF XI

The army side is known as Matebele, presumably taken from the early independence days, when the country’s army engaged in battles with then neighbouring Rhodesia, protecting the country from the Ian Smith era as well as Matebele cattle raids.

Security Systems

Prior to the change of name to the current Security Systems, they were known as Rolling Boys and it appears their nickname is The Alarm Boys, as the company bankrolling them is in the business of alarms, security and cash-in-transit services.

Black Forest

They are known as Magoleng and indeed their green kit confirms where they get such a name, a particular black forest somewhere around Mankgodi, where the team is from. They are also called by their jubilant supporters ‘Rekampa ra palelana’ or ‘Gokampa ga leswa’ due to their unbeaten run in the BTC Premiership. They are also known as S’tshweneng.

Miscellaneous

Their die-hard supporters affectionately call them Tse Nala and this Serowe outfit is also called Mmeselane, a corrupted Miscellaneous in Tswana.

NICO United

The outfit from the copper and nickel mining town of Selebi Phikwe are affectionately known as Majombolo and Baby Jombies while others call them Pick and Foshol.

Gilport Lions (BMC)

The newly acquired and renamed side, which previously traded as BMC is more famous for its colorful kits, which can be a combo of black shorts and pink t-shirts to black shorts and orange t-shirts. As BMC, they were famously nicknamed Ezinkomo ziyahlaba or The Meat Boys.



Mahalapye Hotspurs

They are known as ‘Amahot’ and the side from Mahalapye is finding the going getting tough in the top league. Maybe, just maybe, the hotness has fizzled out since they ascended the top paying league.

Sankoyo Bush Bucks

This North West district side is known as Ngurungu, a local name for the bush buck and they have since adopted and used it.

Orapa United

The team from the diamond rich Orapa town is affectionately called ‘The Ostriches.’ Back in the days, legend was that many looked for ostriches not particularly for their meat, but for their supposed picking of something to eat, an assortment of gemstones. So Orapa United as a diamond mining town side opted for this nickname possibly along the legendary tale.

Police XI

They are known as the Jungle Kings or Cops and Robbers, obviously in relation to their badge, which has a lion head and for their profession of chasing criminals. ENDS