Tlou wary of another near-miss
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday April 27, 2024 06:00
Tlou suffered heartbreak in 2019 with Jwaneng Fighters, his then side. Now, five years later, he is on the verge of getting to the Promised Land with the Debswana First Division South League leaders.
If they secure promotion as expected, it will be a first for the club and the coach.
The star-studded Fighters’ side had local football household names such as Raphael Nthwane, Boitumelo Mafoko, and Mosimanegape Ngongorego. The team was in a neck-and-neck battle with Gilport Lions. Lions pipped Fighters to the post as Tlou's charges settled for the play-off spot.
However, the team was denied progression to the Premier League by Morupule Wanderers in the play-offs. Fighters were beaten 2-0 at home before they let a 2-0 lead slip in the away tie, which ended 2-2. So far, Tlou has emerged with Young Stars. The team is having a near-perfect run to their maiden Premier League promotion.
They sit at the top of the standings with 40 points, from a possible 54. They have won 13 times and lost on four occasions while they played to a draw once, the lowest in the league. With 40 goals scored, Young Stars are the First Division South net busters and have conceded the lowest at only 13 thus far.
Tlou's side is only two wins away from Premier League promotion and the coach hopes to avoid the ghost of the past.
He cited sound club administration as the definitive difference between the 2024 title run and their 2019 near-miss. “That time, it was difficult. Fighters are run by society, not by a company.
This one (Young Stars) is a company. A company and a society are two different things. A company structure is controlled by a few people, while in a society set up, whoever makes the loudest noise is listened to. It was unfortunate for me. I always think about that time. When I got into this position, I knew I could go to the Premier League.
I knew it would take a lot,” Tlou told MmegiSport. The tactician is not about to pop the champagne bottle, as his side still needs six points from the remaining 12. “I am not confident yet, because we still need to wrap it up. We are now working with calculators. We are calculating that if those guys behind us can win these games, how far can they go? So, we are eyeing 46 points now. If we get to 46 [points] then, we are well and good. We will be beyond reach,” Tlou said.