beMOBILE Premiership preview (Part II)
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday September 2, 2016 14:43
Club: BDF XI
Established: 1978
Position last season: 4
Players to watch: Bonolo Phuduhudu, Kobamelo ‘Swere’ Kebaikanye
Home colours: Green and Red
Away colours: White and Green
Home ground: SSKB Stadium
Coach: Louis Setshwane
Pressure will be on BDF XI this season considering they have been falling short of winning the league title for many seasons now despite a high turnover of coaches and players at the club. They have always seemed like a team in a building process. Just when everyone expects them to challenge for the title, a change in the technical team takes place. Fans will hope new coach, Louis Setshwane will be given time to take the team forward. They have registered a number of good players including Rollers’ speedy winger, Kebaikanye on loan. They also have managed to rope in former Nico United duo, Richard Legwaila and Onkabetse Seforo.
“As you aware we would have won the league three seasons ago before we were docked six points. Our current committee has a four-year plan and, yes we have to win silverware. We have signed some quality players including Legwaila. We are also looking at finalising the registration of a Namibian striker,” BDF XI spokesperson, Pius Kolagano.
Club: Nico United
Established: Early 1970s
Position last season: 11
Players to watch: Mpoeleng Mpoeleng
Home colours: Green and gold
Away colours: Gold
Home ground: Selebi-Phikwe Stadium
Coach: Dean Mwiinde
Nico, just like Gunners, have lost several key players due to their financial predicament. With FC Satmos now down in the lower division, Nico find themselves fighting for survival as the only representative in Selebi-Phikwe. They have however tried to fill in the gaps with notable names such as Mpoeleng Mpoeleng and Gaotwesepe Legoreng who have played Premier League football before. With the future looking bleak as far as the relationship with BCL Mine is concerned, Nico could once again struggle to stamp authority this season.
“We lost about 13 players so we are still trying to build a new team. We do not want to set our targets too high because most players are still new in the team as well as the coach. However we believe the team automatically becomes stronger if the management is strong and these players can take us somewhere,” said Nico spokesperson, Mogomotsi Orapeleng.
Club: Police XI
Established: 1978
Position last season: 8
Players to watch: Betsho Pius, Tapiwa Gadiboale
Home colours: Maroon and gold
Away colours: Gold and maroon
Home ground: Otse Stadium
Coach: Maitumelo Lotlaamoreng
Not much has changed in the technical team although Lotlaamoreng is now back as the head coach after being demoted at the start of last season. While they still managed to finish in the top eight, Police XI will be worried that they dropped two positions down from the previous season. They have tried to bolster their squad with the arrival of two foreign players, Mkhululi Dube and Kevin Sibanda both from Zimbabwe.
“Our belief as management is that we can win every competition because we are capable. We organised a tournament last weekend and did not do well. We are playing another one this weekend against the likes of Black Peril and Sua Flamengoes. This is our effort to try and put the boys in shape ahead of the start of the season,” Police XI spokesperson, Jayson Chabota.
Club: Extension Gunners
Established: 1962
Players to watch: Kgololo Kgogobi
Position last season: 9
Home colours: Black
Away colours: White
Home ground: New Lobatse Stadium
Coach: Daniel Nare
Like several other community sides, despite a large following, Extension Gunners have been once again hard done by their financial situation. They have lost several key players because of the club’s inability to fulfil their financial obligation. Had players such as Kekaetswe Moloi, Tshegofatso Chimuku and Topo Piet among others stayed at the club, Gunners would have been dark horses in the title race with a few additions to the squad. The likes of Kgogobi and Otlantshekela Mooketsi are expected to rejuvenate the team as it looks for its first league title in nearly two decades.
“Our preparations are going well although we have kept a low profile. We are only left with one slot in our squad, which is a proven goal scorer. Otherwise we have managed to get a specialist in every position. The truth of the matter is that we have been a shadow of ourselves and now we want to start competing with our peers Rollers, Gaborone United and Chiefs. We have been struggling to pay players but this time All Kasi who are our technical sponsors, will take care of that,” Gunners spokesperson, Edwin Mabapa said.
Club: Jwaneng Galaxy
Established: 2013
Position last season: 7
Players to watch: Boitumelo Mafoko, Tebogo Sembowa
Home colours: White and Black
Away Colours: Black
Home ground: Jwaneng Galaxy Stadium
Coach: Mike Sithole
While many are already counting Orapa United, Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs as favourites this season, Jwaneng Galaxy seem to have quietly been building a monster if the current squad is anything to go by. The arrival of Mike Sithole as coach and acquisition of Sekhana Koko, Thabang Sesinyi and Gaopatwe Seosenyeng on paper makes them serious contenders this season. All of them are winners in their own right.