18 Feb 2014

The race for the automatic promotion spot in the first division south league became even tenser over the weekend as rookies, Black Forest of Mankgodi closed in on pacesetters Letlapeng of Ramotswa.

Since the beginning of the league, Letlapeng had been riding high and looked likely to wrap up the league with ease, but Black Forest were equally consistent, albeit trailing by around five points at some stage.

However, over the weekend, Letlapeng slipped when they unexpectedly succumbed 0-3 at home to Mogoditshane Fighters. The loss was a shock to many Letlapeng supporters especially that Fighters lied in position six in the log standings and was not among those challenging for promotion.

Letlapeng came into the game after burying Masitaoka 5-0 in Molepolole the previous weekend. Letlapeng’s loss was however, well relished by Black Forest as they hammered former premier league outfit, Killer Giants 2-0 to narrow the gap at the top to just a point.

Letlapeng have so far collected 28 points from 14 games while Black Forest have 27 points from as many games. Rolling Boys and Jwaneng Comets sit at positions three and four respectively with 23 points each, but Rolling Boys have an advantage of goal difference, which is just a single goal though.

Although they lost over the weekend, Killer Giants have not moved a single place and still occupy position five, ensuring that the weekend results would not effect any changes among the top five. Fighters’ win on the other hand moved them from position eight to six, leapfrogging Mochudi Buffaloes and Modipane United.

There has not been any movement among the bottom four as well. Prisons XI are still at position nine despite their victory against fellow strugglers, Black Peril, and so does Masitaoka, who only registered their third victory of the season against Modipane United.

Gantsi Terrors received the heaviest loss of the weekend when they fell 0-5 to Jwaneng Comets.

Despite having a scary name, Black Peril has not been any danger to its opponents this season, and the only peril they are currently associated with is the dreaded relegation axe. They are so far placed second from the bottom after losing by a solitary goal to Prisons XI.

This weekend Fighters will face Masitaoka, and the Molepolole lads will fancy their chances against their equally charged opponents. Mochudi Buffaloes will entertain Prisons XI, while Killer Giants will be awaiting Rolling Boys at Siga grounds in Ramotswa.

Black Forest will fancy their chances away to Gantsi Terrors in an effort to top the log standings, and will be hoping Terrors will be in a poor mood they displayed against Comets this past weekend.

Letlapeng on the other hand will be looking to ease the pressure off their shoulders when they visit Black Peril at Tlokweng on Sunday while Modipane United will wrap up the weekend with a date against Comets. ENDS