Relegation haunted Miscellaneous were the big winners in the Be MOBILE Premier League at the weekend after grabbing maximum points in their game against fellow strugglers, Motlakase.
Miscellaneous shocked the football fraternity when they hammered Motlakase 5-1 in a crucial game played in Francistown on Sunday afternoon.
Emmanuel Thakadu netted a hat-trick with the other two goals coming from Kesaotshepha Omphile and Master Masitara. The win has taken Miscellaneous from the basement of the 16-team table to position 14. They have now accumulated 15 points from 23 games. Before the weekend, nobody could have predicted the score line as both sides have been struggling to come to terms with the stiff competition in the elite league. Since the beginning of the season, Miscellaneous have been struggling to find the back of the net and have not scored more than three goals in a single match.
The arrival of top marksman Masitara revived the hopes of those following the Serowe-based team that their side can achieve big things and sustain their place in the top flight.
In an interview with the Telegraph Sport on Monday, Miscellaneous spokesperson Solomon ‘Taliban’ Dikgang said that his side will play each of their last games of the season like a cup final. In their last seven games, Miscellaneous will only play two games away from home (in Selebi-Phikwe) against Police XI and Uniao Flamengo Santos.
In Phikwe, they will host Black Peril, TASC, Extension Gunners, TAFIC and Nico United. “There is a belief that we can survive. The good thing is that we’re done against teams which are fighting for the championship (Township Rollers, Centre Chiefs and ECCO City Greens). But the teams which are in the same predicament as ours still have to play these sides. It’s going to be an interesting finale but we’re now focused to ensure that we collect maximum points,” he said.
Dikgang further said that the arrival of Masitara has helped a lot as he brings the experience they needed in front of goal. Masitara has scored three goals in the three games in which he has featured this season. He grabbed a brace in the 4-2 defeat to BMC and scored one against Motlakase.
“He has taken pressure from the other guys, which is good news for us. We played good football at the weekend despite missing three of our key players due to different reasons,” he continued.
Before the weekend’s game, coach Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote had remained calm despite football experts having already written an obituary for his side. Miscellaneous take a break from the demanding league schedule when they take on No Mathata in the prestigious Coca-Cola Cup tonight at the Selebi-Phikwe Stadium. The winner will go on to face TAFIC this coming weekend in the round of 32.
Meanwhile, Mochudi Centre Chiefs also had a wonderful weekend when they beat log leaders Township Rollers 3-2. Former Rollers’ captain Joel Mogorosi, who was making his debut for Chiefs, scored a brace with the winning goal coming from Sageby Sandaka.
“I’m happy that I started off well for my new team and helped the team collected the all-important points. All I wanted was to play after spending weeks on the sidelines. The booing from the Rollers’ supporters did not bother me as I expected it and they’ve reasons why they did that,” said Mogorosi on Monday.
The win ensured that Chiefs remain second on the log with 50 points, four less than Rollers. But Rollers have a chance of extending their lead to seven points when they face BDF XI at the UB Stadium tonight.
In another match pencilled for tonight Police XI take on struggling Black Peril. The Jungle Kings are favourites to win the match as they have been improving which each game which passes by. Tonight’s league games kick off at 7.30pm.
