Four vie for women’s finals spot
Kabelo Boranabi | Saturday June 15, 2024 09:37
The quartet of BDF XI, Gaborone United (GU), Royal Fighters and Zodiac Collabo Girls are vying for a spot in the national championship finals and a possible place in the COSAFA CAF Women's Champions League qualifiers. The four regional league champions will clash in Lobatse over the weekend to decide the South Block. Collabo Girls are riding on momentum after a pulling shocker in the Jwaneng Mine Southern Region Women's League. The team fended off former Mares' coach, Gaolethoo 'Ronaldo' Nkutlwisang-led Jwaneng Galaxy. Collabo Girls are unbeaten in the Southern Region League as they scored 101 goals and conceded just five in 18 games. This is the highest-scoring team of the final four in the South Block playoffs with an average of over five goals per game as they reclaimed their title.
The team concluded its regional competition last weekend and would be carrying the momentum into this weekend's round of games. Forward, Chedza Katsibe is the top scorer among the four teams with 34 goals in 16 games and would be key in Michael Motseothata's team ambitions. The Kanye-based side know GU is a much bigger threat to their aspirations. The Reds Ladies have the arsenal and recently managed a coup with the acquisition of championship-winning coach, William 'Raizor' Monene from Double Action. The team emerged victors in arguably the most difficult regional league in the women's game. GU pulled a shocker as they finished above perennial champions, Double Action in the Gaborone City Region Women's League. The team is unbeaten in the just-ended campaign, scoring 63 goals and conceding the least. Gaonyadiwe 'Neymar' Ontlametse will be key for GU Ladies after notching 12 goals in her debut season with the team. BDF XI finished unbeaten with 38 points in the Kweneng Region League. The Camo Girls replace former champions, Mexican Girls who endured a torrid campaign to finish third in the Kweneng League.
This is a team that has proven to be a tougher nut to crack and was free-scoring with 75 goals from their 14 games. This makes it an average of 5.3 goals per game and slightly lower than Collabo Girls' return. Kgatleng Region League champions, Royal Fighters are the dark horse of the quartet. The team has the lowest scoring rate amongst the four and would face their biggest test over the weekend. The winner of the weekend's games will join two other qualifiers to debut at the national finals. Tawana Top Girls and Makgabz Girls have won the Northern and Western Blocks respectively for the first time. Only Granada Wanderers have qualified for the national finals before.