06 Dec 2020

The second leg of Debswana First Division playoffs where Mogoditshane Fighters play hosts to Nico United next weekend promises to be a gut-wrenching yet savory affair depending on where one sits.

Following the duo’s goalless draw at Sam Sono Stadium in Selebi Phikwe on December 5,  coaches of either side have spoken quite frankly about the need to return to rubbing shoulders against the big boys of Botswana football.  

Adding to the promises of a fascinating and amusing showpiece ahead was the fact that either of the two gaffers of Peter Muchina of Nico and Thaloba Nthaga of Fighters was upbeat that the coming weekend will usher them to Premier League. 

However, the door is open for just one man and his team.

Although Nthaga spoke with some reserved pride for managing to promote three teams to the premier league in a period spanning six years from 2010 to 2016, Muchina on the other side spoke such as a man with a load hanging heavily over his shoulders.

Here is where Muchina’s source of pressure emanate;  Muchina is fashioning a Nico return to top flight football because in his admission he has his sight on quenching premier league football thirst not only in Selebi Phikwe, but the greater Selebi Phikwe region.

Nico had been the only beacon of hope in the greater Selebi Phikwe region after rivals Mosquito and Satmos relegated to the First Division before downgrading to Division One football. 

Majombolo as Nico is acclaimed then relegated in 2017 alongside Mahalapye United Hotspurs and Green Lovers.

Though his side was blunt in front of goals, Muchina’s hopes are carried by the fact the boys managed to create a plethora of chances nonetheless. If properly honed in the coming week, Nico, may realise their dream of returning to speak the language of the top 16 football teams in the country.“When we win, we won’t be doing it only for Nico, it will be a win for the whole Selebi Phikwe area, which has been starved of premier league football,” the coach said when quizzed about the significance of a possible win for his side in Gaborone.

Certainly football lovers looked to be itching not only for a return of the beautiful game, but also a return to the stadia as a few heads were noted stealing sneak peek over stadium walls to feast on the beautiful game they long parted with in March. 

Although Muchina conceded that his side was bereft of composure and precision in front of goals, the gaffer promised a solemn fight in the return leg since he has an insight of how Fighters stage their war tactics.

Be that as it may, Fighters coach Nthaga who was ‘comfortable with a goalless draw’ away from home on the other side said the onus to win the return leg lied with his side back home.

“It will be on us to get a win when we get back to the south,” said Nthaga who is not new to the task of promoting teams to the top tier league.

In fact, he talked like a man feeling no pressure whatsoever and relishing a goalless draw with an opportunity draw a hatchet and slit Majombolo’s throats back at home.

“Nico put Fighters under pressure ‘with their long balls in the wide areas’ but the latter managed to dowse the innocuous fire at the end,” Nthaga observed. 

In his coaching career Nthaga, who has been recently appointed to the head coach seat of the Mogoditshane side, boasts a fat record of steering Black Peril, Rolling Boys and Letlapeng Football Clubs to the premier league in a period between 2010 and 2016.

Nthaga now finds himself facing another daunting task of promoting Fighters to the premier league football after the side relegated about five years ago.

“Look, it’s gonna be an interesting season because its gonna be played in over five months and its gonna make it very difficult for the teams,” said Nthaga on the return of football after a long layoff due to COVID-19. 

Fighters will host Nico next weekend in Gaborone at a venue yet to be announced.  Ends