03 Aug 2018

 The BTC Premier League might be on a halt with transfer gossip dominating local football as teams beef-up their squads for the upcoming season. But amid the local transfer market hype and the barrage of pre-season tournaments, comes the BTC Charity Cup which acts as a curtain raiser to mark the league’s resumption.

The off season charity cup is expected to make its debut next Saturday(August 11) and football fanatics are already chomping at the bit, with teams vying for votes to secure a spot in the competition.

 The cut-off date for voting will officially be today(August 3), ending weeks of frantic voting by enthusiastic football supporters who have been backing their teams to play in one of the most sort after one-day football extravaganzas.

As of end of business on Wednesday, the charity cup votes updates pitted Miscellaneous at the summit of the raking with 12 339 votes followed by Extension Gunners with 11 076 votes while Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers complete the quartet with 9 023  and 8 838 votes respectively.

Gaborone United are slightly outside  the top four bracket with 8 058 votes and Jwaneng Galaxy completes the top six with only 5 537 votes.

Miscellaneous’ lead heading into the final lap of the voting comes as a shock to many as the Serowe-based outfit are not renowned for enjoying massive support from the masses. However, judging from their heroics in the past league campaign where they finished in a respectable position four for the first time in the club’s history, there is no doubt that Miscellaneous might have embroidered their name in the hearts of many. Football commentators are however skeptical on whether Miscellaneous’ participation on the tournament would be of value to the tournament organisers and live-up to the tournament’s mandate as the Serowe-based outfit does not boast a high support base as the votes reflects.

Second positioned Gunners on the other hand are natural crowed pullers and it does not come as a surprise that the Lobatse-based team has lured such votes.

The Peleng boys have for years filled up the eastern stand of the National Stadium, referred to many as Panda, which happens to have the biggest capacity hence their participation in the charity cup could be a guaranteed factor. Despite their off the field financial struggles, third placed Mochudi Centre Chiefs have always had their supporters in their corner. Loyalty is personified with reference to Magosi supporters who have proved their loyalty to the team through their votes even when the going gets tough.  Their supporters never shy away from expressing their emotions through songs and chants.

Rollers rounds up the current leading pack and their fourth place occupation leaves a lot to be desired considering that Popa has been on song in recent times, not only winning a double in the past season, but also making history by being the first local team to compete in the CAF group stages. Dubbed the ‘bright and colourful’ due to their regalia creativity, Rollers’ fan base arguably spreads across the length and breadth of the country.   

Rollers goes into the last 24 hours of voting carrying a slim 780 vote margin between them and long-time rivals Gaborone United. With the curtain falling on the voting session, teams are leaving no stone unturned in luring their supporters to vote to guarantee them a slot in the upcoming charity tournament. 

Despite a mouthwatering P300 000 prize money for the ultimate winners, the tournament also motivates the winner to begin the season on a high with some silver wear in the trophy cabinet. ENDS