Trio head for final day showdown
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday May 24, 2024 14:17
It is a tightly contested race, as after 29 league rounds, only two points separate the three title chasers. Leading the pack is Jwaneng Galaxy, as they search for their second successive league title and third overall, with 62 points. Township Rollers are a point behind the mining boys with 61 points in a bid for a record 17th league title. Gaborone United (GU) on the other hand, are two points behind Galaxy as they go in search of an eighth league title. Galaxy were running away with the title until the Botswana Football League's (BFL) prosecutor awarded points to teams that honoured league games during the January clubs' revolt.
The decision, as it inched Galaxy closer to the title, also threw GU back into the race with three rounds to go. The reigning champions, however, had a slump in form as they failed as they are winless in the last three games. Galaxy played to draws against title rivals, Rollers and GU, and also relegated Holy Ghost. The Reds made most of the BFL decision as they failed to drop points in the last two games until a midweek draw against Galaxy. Rollers on the other hand are on a four-game winning streak to keep in touch with the leaders. The Blues have the better run of form of the three title chasers as they scored 13 goals in recent games. The final day's focus will be on three battlefields in Jwaneng, Gaborone and Francistown on Saturday. Galaxy are home to Orapa United at the Galaxy Stadium while Rollers are away to TAFIC at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium as GU welcome Holy Ghost at the Dinaledi Football Academy Stadium.
Permutations The reigning champions, Galaxy can amass 65 points if they emerge victorious in a must-win game against Orapa United. A draw would mean Galaxy need the two Gaborone giants to drop points on the final day. Rollers on the other hand can go as far as 64 points and will need Galaxy to lose while a Galaxy draw against the Ostriches would also do The Blues a huge favour. GU on the other hand will need a huge favour from both TAFIC and Orapa United, for both teams to win their respective games over the weekend. The Reds can only reach 63 points for this campaign.
Words from the bench
Pontsho Moloi (GU) 'We can only play our game. We can only play the last game for ourselves and play the last game trying to win the game. Whatever happens, happens. So we can only do ourselves justice and play the game to win the game. We will go to Holy Ghost to try and score more goals and win the match,' said Moloi on Wednesday. Morena Ramoreboli (Galaxy) 'We will go into the last match as much as it is going to be a tough one. We will try our level best to make sure that we make ourselves proud. We will work hard for this league and we cannot allow it to slip off at the last minute as much as things are tough but we will try our best to make sure that we get a positive result,' the South African coach said after the midweek tie against GU.
Innocent Morapedi (Rollers) “Nothing has changed since our first training at the start of the season. We want to win the league. This is a team that wants to win the league. We will do everything in our power to win the remaining game,” Morapedi told MmegiSport after last weekend's win over Galaxy. Despite the battle lines being drawn, the BFL is yet to announce the prize money for this campaign. The three games will kick off at 3pm.
How it looks heading into the final day: P W D L GD Pts Galaxy 29 19 5 5 27 62 Rollers 29 18 4 4 35 61 GU 29 18 6 5 28 60