Turbulent year for First Division South

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Friday December 16, 2011 00:00

 

It marked a troubled year for First Division football, which is already reeling from the prolonged absence of a sponsor.

The referees' issue is not something new, it was there last year when some games had to be re-scheduled due to officials' non-availability.

The last season belonged to Mogoditshane Fighters who popped from nowhere to lay a claim to the title. However, on their way to clinching promotion, they experienced what is becoming a bane in the First Division South league- the non-availability of officials.  Their big game against Mochudi Buffaloes, despite attracting a huge crowd fell victim to the problems faced by referees.

Fans who had thronged the Buffaloes ground in great anticipation were left in the lurch after learning late that there would be no match officials as they were protesting their non payment of the Coca Cola Cup match fees.The game was rescheduled and Fighters went on to become champions and were promoted to the be MOBILE Premier League while Buffaloes were left leaking their wounds again.

It was also the year when former Premier League side Naughty Boys were demoted following some management shenanigans, which adversely affected their play.

One highlight was when former Naughty Boys manager Desmond Molefhe and former coach Timmy Setswe had a heated verbal exchange on the bench, which resulted in the coach walking out before the end of the match and was consequently fired for misconduct.

Setswe joined Letlapeng FC, but once again his run-ins with management earned him the boot. Black Peril, who got an easy leap to the Premier League league after just one season in the First Division, were quick to return to their peers where life seemed to become even more difficult as they have tailed the log for a long time and face the prospect of returning to regional football. The Tlokweng based side are hoping for better things in the New Year as their future looks bleak at present.

Outspoken coach Enos Mmesi, who rejoined Killer Giants after being fired by BMC, has turned into a loser following his sudden departure from the Siga based side.

However, the likable coach was man enough to shoulder responsibility when the team struggled to produce results and ultimately bowed out. This was after he confidently declared that he was taking Killer Giants back to the Premier League. Security Systems and Modipane United were welcomed to the league after winning the play-offs in Kang.But while Systems, who were second behind United during the play-offs, had a good start in the new environment, MU struggled until only recently when they woke up from their deep slumber to move up the ladder.

Coach Fannie Mathibe, who had boasted after a shock 4-0 defeat of Killer Giants in the opening game that he would take the league by storm with some inexperienced young boys was also shown the door as the team's fortunes continued to decline.

Veteran former Mochudi Centre Chiefs forward Molatlhegi 'Teenage' Podile took over as player-coach and in no time restored the battered image of the debutants with three straight wins which took them from bottom of the log to position six. League chairman Tariq Babitseng is looking forward to better things in 2012 as his administration has come under scrutiny especially in the wake of the referees' debacle.The uncertainty on when the first round would be completed continues to be a thorn in his side.

There are unconfirmed reports that the first round might only be completed after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals as the Botswana Football Association (BFA) is still to pay the match officials some of the money owed.