10 May 2017

A dark cloud was visibly lingering over Mahalapye on Monday (May 8) as their only premier league team Mahalapye United Hotspurs was condemned to relegation on Sunday (May 7) with three games to spare.

United Hotspurs were promoted to the elite league last season and the condemnation was through a 3-5 thrashing at the hands of fellow rookies, Security Systems in a BTC premiership game played at the Serowe Sports Complex on May 7.

They have so far garnered 19 points from 27 league games, comprising four wins, seven draws and 16 losses.

This is the second successive time a Mahalapye team gets relegated to the second tier after BR Highlanders suffered the same fate last season.

The team’s public relations officer, Boniface Disho said it was very unfortunate that it had to be them who get relegated but have accepted what fate had for them.

“We are disappointed that we have gone down and have accepted it, but it was a great experience for us and the boys,” said Disho.

He said this in an interview in the wake of their relegation confirmation.

Disho also said they learnt the details on how to ready oneself for the elite league and with such experience, they will bounce back.

He also said the relegation was a blessing in disguise as it presented them with a window of opportunity to look back and retrospect on where they got it wrong and come back better.

He, however, mentioned that the relegation could have been avoided if they had the right measures and plans to maintain their status.

Some of the plans Disho mentioned was to benchmark at other rookies who, like them, were community run such as Mmakgodi’s Black Forest and their survival methods.

He also said they were currently negotiating with some senior players and partners to retain them in the Debswana First Division North.

He added that most of the players were showing the intention of going down with them so they could help gain promotion again.

The Amahot spin doctor also said their management has now realised the necessity of helping the team maintain their status, something they will use once they were back in the premier league.

Asked on what their supporters should expect in their last three league games, he said they were going to continue fighting even though they have already relegated because it was not over until the fat lady sang.

He also cited the difference in the league prize money for the bottom teams, something they want to compete for.

Disho also urged the fans and various stakeholders to come forth and discuss ways in which the team could be helped back to the premier league.

He also expressed optimism that they would survive first division football and head back to the premier league after a single season.

Furthermore, football lovers in Mahalapye mourned the relegation of their only club in the premier league and said it’s a bad thing for their talented village.

Edson Ncube, a football fanatic in Mahalapye, said it’s disappointing that for the past two premier league seasons, two Mahalapye sides have relegated.

He added that it was shameful that the community was not doing enough in helping community teams stay afloat.

“However, we are looking forward to the Mahalapye derby between Hotspurs and Highlanders in the first division next season, something we could solace our broken hearts on,” concluded Ncube. ENDS