The entry of Holy Ghost and Eleven Angels two seasons ago had the Premier League and to an extent, fans outside Botswana sit up and take notice. Their unique names with biblical connotations meant they received added attention as they were promoted to the elite league just weeks apart with Angels through the door first. There was fanfare at both ends of the Dibete cordon fence, as there was jubilation in Mmopane when Holy Ghost piped decorated Mochudi Centre Chiefs to the First Division title. Unlike Holy Ghost, Eleven Angels had to fly into the Premier League via a promotional play-off at the expense of Chiefs. After Chiefs fell short against Holy Ghost, many expected the Kgatleng side to return to the top division when they were pitted against Angels.
But Magosi could not halt the Angels’ ordination as after a stalemate at the River Plate ground, the Francistown side ran riot at home in the return leg to embarrass Chiefs 5-0. Powered by the Holy Ghost and the Angels, the two sides made a grand entry into the Premier League. So much had been expected from the church-backed Holy Ghost, amid talk they were awash with cash. However, the side flattered to deceive as it fought tooth and nail to cling onto its Premier League status and survived by a whisker after finishing 13th in its maiden campaign. Divine intervention maybe, as Holy Ghost were invisibly down and out before miraculously pulling through towards the end of the campaign. In contrast, Angels flew in their first ever campaign and did whet the appetite of their fans and neutrals alike with their brand of football and belief in young talent.
Their coach, Seemo Mpatane, presented a breath of fresh air to the local game, coming across as a supremely confident young mentor. The team finished sixth as it announced itself as the new darling of Francistown in the absence of the old wily fox, TAFIC which was in the First Division doldrums then. But Eleven Angels struggled to replicate the form this season as they wilted under constant defeats. On Wednesday, ironically, it was neighbours TAFIC that sounded the death knell, sending the Angels nose-diving into the dusty grounds of the First Division. The first in, first out principle applied as Holy Ghost, who were first into the Premier League again led the way out when they crashed landed on Wednesday afternoon.
In the evening, Angels followed suit in an end that had TAFIC’s fingerprints all over the crime scene. Just last week, TAFIC lost 5-2 to Angels' relegation contenders, Morupule Wanderers but on Wednesday, 'Ndipe ndi kupe' turned on the style to send their cross-town rivals spiralling out of the Premier League.
