The Premier Soccer League has reached a climax, and teams are now at a stage where every point counts.
Top of the log Township Rollers need only four points to win the championship. This follows a two all draw between bitter rivals Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Extension Gunners.
If Centre Chiefs and Santos can win all their remaining five matches they can only accumulate 68 points while the four points from Rollers remaining five matches will take them up to 69. Rollers were scheduled to play Notwane yesterday (Tuesday) and the game was expected to determine if they will indeed win the championship or wait a bit longer before lifting the trophy.
The biggest battle this season is at the bottom of the log among the relegation bound teams.
Some of the regular premier league teams might find themselves campaigning in the dusty First Division come next season. Although most teams are left with about five matches, the teams in position nine and sixteen are definitely not safe from the chop.
As things stand, the relegation candidates might even be decided on the last day of the league. Before their match against Rollers yesterday (Tuesday) Notwane had 26 points with five matches to play, and are languishing on position nine. The last team on the log is Killer Giants, with 19 points and 4 matches to go. If they win all their remaining games they will end on 31 points. This then mean if those above them falter Killer Giants might survive. What however must be taken note of is that all teams that were promoted last season face the relegation battle. In addition to Killer Giants there is Palapye based side, Motlakase and even Jwaneng Comets. Killer Giants and Motlakase got automatic promotion while Comets won after playoffs. Prominent campaigners in the elite league, BMC, Police XI, Tafic, and Boteti Young Fighters are all facing the chop. Since their last promotion, Boteti have been campaigning in the Premier League for four seasons and have been doing well, at times finishing among the top eight. They are also disadvantaged by the fact that they always have to travel long distances for games.
Their nearest destination is Francistown, but in most cases they have to head to either Gaborone or Lobatse.
