There are new good dancers on the domestic front as Jwaneng Galaxy and Orapa United have moved far ahead of the trio that terrorised local opponents. So ruthless were Fighters and BDF XI that they took turns to dominate the league, with the former bagging three titles on the trot between 1999 and 2001.
To put the dominance into perspective, the three security forces teams; Police XI, BDF XI, and Fighters won seven league titles in a display of brutal dominance stretching from 1999 to 2006. Only Township Rollers gate crashed the disciplined forces’ party in 2005. The monopoly led to calls for a breakaway league under the rebellious BOSA as the institutional teams were considered too powerful to compete against community sides, which were barely surviving. Community teams were struggling while their ‘rich’ services sector counterparts sipped and dipped.
Fed up the community teams bellowed their concerns, arguing the playing field was no longer even. In response, following tense negotiations, an expanded 16-team league was born, while clipping the influence of the state on the teams’ sponsorship. Fighters and Prisons XI felt the brunt of the decision as government withdrew support.
Their play waned and with each passing season, it was apparent the teams were now on a life support system. Both Prisons XI and Fighters had a yo-yo relationship with the Premier League. Presently, Fighters are fighting for their lives in the First Division with relegation to the third tier of local football drawing closer. Prisons XI are safe in the hands of the First Division, but promotion has eluded the Warders. BDF XI are the most decorated of the two security services sides remaining in the Premier League. The army side has seven Premier League titles, but the last one came exactly 20 years ago and BDF XI is no longer formidable.
Their near success was in 2014 when they finished second to Rollers. Ironically, it was the last year BDF XI tasted success in domestic competitions when they won the Mascom Top 8 cup, beating Rollers on penalties. BDF XI have three FA Cup wins, but you have to go back to 2009 the last time they reached a final where they lost to a youthful Uniao Flamingo Santos side. Police XI are the least glamorous of the three dominant sides from the disciplined forces with one league and FA Cup title.
However, there was always a factor in the league races, three times finishing as runners-up in 2003, 2004, and 2005 before eventually winning it in 2006. Now the Cops have moved to the Intensive Care Unit and could be in the First Division by the time the whistle to mark the beginning of the next campaign is blown. Despite the massive resources, Police XI and BDF XI are struggling to replicate the form of old, as tables cruelly turn.
