17 Oct 2019

Arch-rivals Gaborone United and Notwane’s level of rancor towards one another will be protracted during the duo’s Premier League encounter slated for National Stadium tomorrow.

The two’s rivalry dates back to 1967 during the formation of GU, which is a break-away of Notwane when Wellie Seboni headhunted Notwane’s crème de la crème among them David Mophuting to form GU.

As rivalries have their beginnings, be it a match or moment that sparks decades-long tussles for bragging rights between sets of fans, the weekend game will witness one of the teams propitiating for past scores, with the other gaining Gaborone bragging rights.

The anticipation and adrenaline rush is building as the football fraternity prepares for the clash of heavy weights in the battle for  Gaborone supremacy in what  promises to be a gloves off combat and none needs any outside motivation.

An uphill battle awaits Notwane, who will be going into tomorrow’s encounter as under dogs due to their current bad run in the league, having lost all their five opening fixtures.

 Notwane alias Sechaba are yet to find their rhythm and their rocky start could be attributed to their technical team’s uncertainty from pre-season.

The team has already parted ways with two head coaches in a period of three months, with Dragojlo Stanojlovic’s resignation in August, but later appointed Gilbert Mushagazhike, whose stay was also short-lived as he was deemed unqualified to coach in the premier league since he did not possess a class A coaching license.

Even though the league is still on its infancy stage, evidently Notwane could find themselves on the relegation dog fight at the end of the season unless they turn their fortunes around tomorrow. 

Notwane need more points than their opponents, hence they are expected to come out guns blazing, given their worst starts to the season that they are currently languishing in a humiliating bottom place in the Premier League standings.

     Gaborone United on the other hand is by far experiencing a mixed season characterised by inconsistency at spot number five on the log with only two wins and three draws in their first five games and are yet to taste defeat.

Under the leadership of Madinda Ndlovu on the dugout, Moyagoleele started their campaign on a high, defeating newly promoted Gilport Lions 3-0.However, there good run also faded following the departure of Ndlovu, who was forced to leave the club due to medical reasons.

 The team is however waiting with bated breath the official arrival of former Township Rollers mentor Nikola Kavazović.  

The Serbian tactician is still awaiting his work permit and it remains to be seen if he will lead GU back to its glory days, which earned them the nickname ‘The money machine’.

Meanwhile, in other week six Premier League fixtures, Jwaneng Galaxy will host BR Highlanders, while Molepolole City Stars will face Orapa United today.

Defending champions, Township Rollers will tomorrow play against league rookies Gilport Lions, while Security Systems host Prisons XI and Morupule Wanderers will face off with struggling Extension Gunners. ENDS