03 Feb 2020

A fierce promotion battle is now on the cards in the Debswana first division north league after second placed Nico United took advantage of log leaders Sua Flamingoes stumble to draw level on points.

A well oiled Nico United machine on Saturday demolished Great North Tigers 3-0 to set up one of the fascinating promotion duels, which promises to be a humdinger if their display is anything to go by.

Bokamoso Mosima was the hero of the day as he scored a hatrick to guarantee Baby Jombies, as the Selebi Phikwe outfit is affectionately christened by its legion of supporters, maximum points in a game played under searing hot conditions at the Francistown Old Stadium.

Mosima, who was in terrific form, tore the Tigers defence with ease and ran rings around them as he pleased with the support of the talented Kabo Oletile whose ball dribbling skills were no match for the hosts.

With a cultured left foot, Oletile dazzled with his juggling and dummying skills which left the opponents in a state of confusion while supplying dangerous crosses to his strikers.

While the youthful GNT looked promising in the first half, they failed to utilise the few opportunities that fell their way. United went into half time leading after Mosima had put his side in the lead with a well taken shot giving Segolame Jobe no chance in Great North Tigers goals.

In the second half the Nico United trio Mosima, Oletile and Motshwari Goitseone were in scintillating form tearing down what was left of the Tigers defence manned by Keabetswe Mpitse, Goitsemodimo Dickson and Koziba Gibson.

The Ndiyapo Letsholathebe coached-outfit could not muster any defensive strategy to stop the visitors’ forwards.

While Nico was cruising to a comfortable victory in Francistown, in Sua, Flamingoes were seeing dust as visitors Santa Green beat them by a solitary goal to nil, halting their march to the automatic promotion spot.

With 14 games played so far in the Debswana First Division- North, both Nico and Flamingoes have played an equal number of games and are tied at the league summit with 29 points.

Flamingoes, however, remain in first position because of superior goal difference.

The battle at the top of the league is surely taking shape and this means that upcoming fixtures for the two teams will be fiercely contested with none wanting to lose ground.

For Selebi Phikwe side getting promotion into the premier league would come as a relief after they were relegated.

The economic situation in the town would also get a major boost should their dreams come true.

The two teams are cognizant about many tough games ahead and that while they lead the pack currently, they are so close yet so far from getting promoted to the elite league at the end of the season.

This can only mean one thing for those teams that they face in their upcoming games, that the league could be about to become even harder by every passing week.

While it is early to predict which clubs will be competing to be promoted at the end of the season, the battle lines have been drawn judging by the current form of the two top teams in the league.

While clubs in the middle of the table have not lifted their hands to be counted, clubs such as Eleven Angels and Calender Stars are likely to play a critical role in determining who gets promoted and also have the potential to spoil the party at the top by sneaking through as contenders depending on how they fare in the remaining games.

 Currently, it is not clear, which of the two teams at the top is in a prime position to get the automatic promotion spots.

A recent draw and loss for Flamingoes might be a sign of more bad things coming their way unless they arrest the situation. Nico on the other hand has been consistent and if they don’t falter, they stand a good chance of reaping dividends at the end of the season.

The next few games for both teams might just prove to be extremely tough unless they up their game and consolidate the gains they have already made in the campaign. ENDS