Football watchers are wondering whether the Botswana Football Association (BFA) Kweneng Region Division 1 department league has gone to the dogs or the dogs have come into the league as the contest descends into the dog eats dog stage ÔÇô where all rules are thrown out the window ÔÇô in a murky tussle to determine the club to be promoted to the Debswana First Division South League (DFDSL) promotional playoffs.
League authourities are on high alert following reports of match fixing and dirty tricks by match officials and administrators in the fierce and alleged shady campaign for promotion to the first division league.
Log leaders Metsimotlhabe Sporting Club (MESC), Masitaoka and Kumakwane United are all chasing the coveted slot fora promotional playoffs. With two matches to the the playoffs berth, MESC leads the pack with 60 points at the summit of the table while Masitaoka and Kumakwane United are snapping MESC heels with 59 points apiece.
The Metsimotlhabe based side took the lead at the summit of the log over the weekend as they walloped Kumakwane Checkers five nil in a match that was allegedly under scrutiny for possible match fixing.
MESC toppled Kumakwane United pushing them two spots down to position three with one point separating the two teams. MESC went on for a double when they narrowly brushed aside Molmas United on Sunday in a congested weekend fixture. Kumakwane United played to a two all draw on Saturday against Mmopane Sporting Club and redeemed to winning ways on Sunday when they walloped Sweet XI two nil.
Pushing for a consecutive slot in the playoffs after competing last season, Molepolole based Masitaoka collected maximum points winning against Sanyane Celtics and Babakima away from home. With two games before the season end, Masitaoka will face off with MESC in their last encounter of the season that will end the league in photo finish in a match slated for Metsimotlhabe.
BFA spokesperson Tumo Mpatane condemned any unfair practices noting that all remaining games across all regions will be watched closely. ‘’We do not condone football malpractices as a nation. It is important to come out clean with fair play for the sake of football development in the country,” said Mpatane.
He said they were trying to have the best referees officiate some of the matches. ‘’We have confidence in referees officiating in lower divisions and believe they are competent to handle the matches. It has been witnessed in other lower division matches that CAF ranked officials feature in some of the games so as to show that we want to promote lower leagues in terms of refereeing and fairness,” Mpatane told The Telegraph.
