Thursday, February 13, 2025

BDF XI look to turn the corner this season

Since the beginning of the be-MOBILE Premier League this season, army side BDF XI has not put a foot wrong. They started the league on a positive note, undefeated in the five matches they have played. They have won four and only drew one and are currently top the league with 13 points.

Many people did not give BDF XI a chance to do well bearing in mind that they had lost several key players after the end of last season. They lost international players like, Lemponye Tshireletso and even goalkeeper, Michael Pepukani to both Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers respectively.

It looks like Matebele, as BDF XI are known, have not had much difficulty in filling their positions because results are coming. Team coach, Letang Kgengwenyane, told The Telegraph Sports that results are a sign of what they have been doing all along. He said they have long had continuity in the team and hardly struggle even when a big player leaves them.

“We have many good players at BDF XI and most of them are unknown. We have a culture of having more than one player for each position in the team and that is why we are still doing well despite losing big players like Tshireltso and Pepukani,” he said.

Kgwengenyane added that Zimbabwean international, Takudwa Ndoro, has easily replaced Pepukani in betwee the goalposts while Molatedi Mabina has filled the big shoes left by Tshireletso.

Kgengwenyane also stressed that BDF XI has not won trophies in a long time and it is about time they started bring silverware to their cabinet.

“If you can look at our performance last season we were doing well and we have to build on that. We were number three in the league and even reached the finals of Mascom Top Eight where we lost to Gaborone United. This season have to fight for the league championships and the worst results should at least be position two. I believe we have capable, tried and tested players who can do the job,” he said.

Some of the quality players in the ranks of BDF XI are the likes of Mompati Thuma, Ndiapo Letsholathebe, Mokgathi Mokgathi Saukani Zulu, Patrick Kaunda and Ofentse Mmipi.

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