GU have Chiefs' points record in sight
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday May 21, 2022 06:27
Cross town rivals, Township Rollers and mining sides, Galaxy and Orapa United, were also in the mix of what was predicted to be a four-horse gallop.
It has been a very successful campaign for the Reds as they have shown they are miles ahead of their rivals. On Tuesday, GU bagged the title after reaching 70 points with two games to play. The team's points haul is the second-best in the last two decades of Premier League football and GU still can equal the highest championship-winning points record. In 2007-2008 season, Mochudi Centre Chiefs recorded the most points in the league as they were crowned champions with 76 points. In that season, Magosi registered 23 victories and seven draws as they ended the league campaign without a defeat.
The record has stood for 14 years and GU, with their first title in more than a decade, could equal the feat. The Reds are now four clear of the average winning points, which stands at between 62 and 66 points. The Money Machine announced their intentions early on in the campaign winning 11 games without conceding as they maintained a 100% win record in the first five games. A 2-1 defeat at the hands of BDF XI followed. However, the defeat was rather a trip, not a fall as the team marched on to claim six straight victories in as many games, including huge wins in a 7-0 thumping of Prisons XI and a statement sending 5-1 away to Galaxy. A 1-0 win over Rollers in the Gaborone derby also sent warning sounds to other title contenders.
GU’s second defeat of the season came at the hands of Rollers in a chaotic game that ended 1-0 at the Royal Aria Stadium. After Rollers' defeat, GU has settled for draws only twice with eight victories including Tuesday evening’s win over Galaxy. The Reds have been almost unstoppable as they showed glimpses of the invincible Chiefs team.
Ironically, GU’s assistant coach, Pontsho Moloi captained the 2008 record-breaking Magosi team. Head coach, Innocent Morapedi had some stints on the Chiefs’ bench. The duo's next task takes them to Sua Flamingos this weekend before closing the campaign against Notwane next Tuesday. Wins in both games will take the Reds to 76 points collected in the 2021–2022 season and they will become the most successful champions tied with Magosi. GU has scored 49 goals thus far and have a record of 20 clean sheets as the team has only let in 10 goals.
“When we started (pre-season) we said this league can be won with 66 points. We then said for us not to struggle much. let's think of 70 (points) or more. In terms of calculations and our budget, we have not fallen off the 66. I think the last league was won with 66 and I think the highest was Chiefs with 76 points,” Morapedi said in an interview with sister publication, Monitor Sport.