TAFIC spokesperson, Thomas Chabalala, has promised fans that the side will put up a strong fight when the 2011-2012 Premier League season kicks off. TAFIC, who are the darlings of Northern Botswana, started the previous season brightly but their wheels came off in the middle of the campaign. That resulted in TAFIC finishing in the tenth spot with 42 points, unlike their city rivals ECCO City Greens who finished third behind champions Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs.
The result, which left the football community talking, was when Clarkson Dzimbiri’s penalty earned them a 1-0 victory over fancied Mochudi Centre Chiefs.
Dzimbiri, Wellington Sibanda, Uyapo Seleka and Alphonse Modisaotsile were some of the names that sent shivers to the opponents. The displays started bringing the old memories of the 1990s when midfield general Mmoloki ‘BB’ Sechele, Palace Hubona, Ace Phukula, Nobody ‘Jomo’ Mosweu and Leonard ‘Hero’ Matenge used to terrorise the opposition.
Last season’s team may have been nowhere near that crack side of the 90s but their displays made TAFIC supporters to start having faith in their side. Their supporters started coming back to the stadiums in numbers but things got bad through the campaign as players accused the management of not addressing their welfare well.
Matjimenyenga started posting indifferent results while some of the players shunned the team.
In an interview with Sunday Standard, Chabalala said they have identified some of the problems that affected their performance last season.
“We were not happy about where we ended in the league considering that we started off well. We could have done better than that but we want to make amends this season. Some of our players became big headed last season as they were hailed by the media. Some of the clubs in the Premier League even went to the extent of approaching our players in the middle of the season,” he said.
But the management would have to work tirelessly in trying to convince some players to stay as they are looking elsewhere for employment.
“It’s no secret that we’re going to lose some of the key players but I have confidence that the coach (Paul Moyo) will introduce some interesting youngsters who will make headlines in no time,” said a TAFIC supporter. Chabalala pointed out that since they want to consolidate last season’s performance, coach Paul Moyo has hardly rested as he has been running trials in Francistown. It is expected that the veteran tactician would provide the management with his report on Wednesday when the rest of the players report for pre-season training.
“We’re definitely going to reinforce our team basing on the recommendations of the technical team. We want TAFIC to start attracting back our long lost supporters,” TAFIC’s motor-mouth said.
Chabalala confirmed that his club has fully privatized and would be run like a company.
He pleaded with the supporters to help in improving the image of the northern giants as they start on a zero balance.
“We’re a company which starts with an empty account. It is up to the members of the club to ensure that their side is run smoothly. I would like to plead with the supporters to rally the team in numbers this coming season. If there is anything which we did not do well last season, I would like to apologise to them (supporters) and we’ll definitely improve in the future,” he concluded.
