Returning Mpote faces Rollers test
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday February 3, 2024 08:41
Rollers, Mpote's former side, stand between him and his first three points in over 500 days, dating back to his last role as the head coach of a local side in a league match. Appointed as Majombolo's head coach this week, this marks his first club job since September 2022 when the Botswana Football Association (BFA) appointed him Zebras coach.
Mpote's immediate task is to lift 15th-placed Nico from the relegation zone. The 'Green and Yellow' are flirting with relegation halfway through the league campaign, having accumulated just 10 points. Going into the weekend assignment, they are on the back of a poor run of form with only six points from a possible 15.
Mpote is likely to be concerned ahead of his Nico debut, especially considering the team's poor performance on the road, with a single away win, three losses, and two draws. Despite this, there is some euphoria within the squad, buoyed by a 0-0 draw against Rollers in the previous weekend.
The Serowe-born coach will have an extra ounce of energy to face his former employers. Mpote enjoyed a fruitful five-year spell with Rollers, winning four league titles. Serving as the club's assistant coach for most of his time at the Blues, he was the team's interim head coach between 2015 and 2017.
Winning his first and only league championship in 2017, he enjoyed a 16-game unbeaten run during the campaign. Despite having been tipped for a head coach role at Popa for a long period, Mpote unceremoniously left Rollers after a fallout with then-head coach Nikola Kavazovic. Popa, on the other hand, will be looking to get back to speed after hitting a bump with the draw against Nico last Saturday.
The Blues are at the summit but could be worried the chasing pack is catching pace. Rollers' lead at the top was reduced to two points but second-placed Gaborone United (GU) has played a game less. Third-placed, Jwaneng Galaxy are not far off just three points behind and the champions have three games in hand. Rollers have also hit a dip in form with just two wins in their last five games while they played to three draws. The team has failed to score in their last two games. Kick-off is at 7pm. In other games tomorrow, Sua Flamingoes welcome Morupule Wanderers at the Sowa Town Council Stadium.
Security Systems travel to the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium to take on Eleven Angels while Police XI and Masitaoka square off at the Lobatse Sports Complex. BDF XI are out for revenge when they take on GU at the National Stadium as Holy Ghost visit Orapa United at the Itekeng Stadium. VTM FC welcome Galaxy at the VTM Arena while Matebele and TAFIC face off at the Dinaledi Football Academy. All games kick off at 4pm.