An intense battle looks on the cards as the battle for title honours in the BTC Premiership intensifies.
Five matches into the season, only a point margin separates the top seven teams in the BTC Premiership table standings.
At the top, only a goal difference separates the trio of Jwaneng Galaxy, Police XI and BDF XI. All the three teams have garnered 11 points each from five (5) games.
The same applies for the four teams making the top seven in the league standings. The four teams, being Township Rollers, Sharps Shooting Stars, Orapa United and Extension Gunners are tied on ten points each with only a goal difference separating them. Rollers on the other hand still have a game in hand.
After a weeklong international break, the BTC Premiership resumed again this past weekend.
On the goal scoring front, there was an upward surge in the number of goals scored in week five with 19 goals scored as compared to week four (4) where a paltry 12 games were scored across all eight matches.
Galaxy finally concedes a goal but go top of the standings
Following their two games winless streak, Jwaneng Galaxy finally returned to winning ways with a 3 ÔÇô 1 win over Black Forest.
The win, though coming with an unwanted blemish to what has been a four game clean sheet, ensured Galaxy assumed their position at the top of the league standings.
The Jwaneng outfit however still have a superior goal difference compared to all other teams in the league, having scored 13 goals and conceding only once in the season’s opening five (5) matches.
Rollers make a statement of intent
Defending league champions Township Rollers made a statement of intent to defend their league title with a well deserved 4 ÔÇô 1 thrashing of Sankoyo Bush Bucks.
Helped by a hattrick from the evergreen veteran forward Joel Mogorosi, Rollers contrived to find a way past a stubborn Sankoyo defence to keep themselves on the coattails of the top three teams, albeit with a game in hand.
With a good depth and quality all over the pitch, Rollers seem to be on course to retain their title despite what has been a very taxing season.
However, with some continental games and local cup games yet to come for Popa, it will be interesting to see how coach Nikola Kovazovic juggles his hugely talented squad.
Forest and Systems slump again
If you thought Black Forest was out of the woods or that it was finally all Systems go for Security Sytems, think again!
After breaking their three weeks winless run last weekend, it was back to the drawing boards for Black Forest and Security Systems as they found themselves at the losing end this past weekend.
Forest were undone by Jwaneng Galaxy who inflicted on them a 3 ÔÇô 1 defeat, while Systems lost by a solitary goal to a resurgent Police XI.
While the Forest and Systems are on positions 11 and 12 in the league standings respectively, both are just two points ahead of bottom placed Sankoyo and a point ahead of BR Highlanders, Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United.
But is it now all systems go for Nare and his charges? Only time will tell.
What’s wrong with Magosi
Five games into the new season, Chiefs is struggling and is yet to register a win. After the struggles of the past season, Chiefs’ supporters would have been hoping for something better this season.
Not to be! This past weekend, Magosi lost 2 ÔÇô 0 to Orapa United to cap off what has been a disastrous start to their campaign.
So far this season, Magosi have lost three and drawn the other two games, leaving the fading Kgatleng giants rooted on 15th position in the BTC Premiership league log, just one spot away from the bottom.
While it is too early in the season, this is by far an unusual spot for Magosi and the supporters will surely be a worried lot!
