Newly promoted first division side VTM Football Club’s preparation for life in the second tier of Botswana’s professional football league is gaining momentum.
So far, ‘Bafana ba Dijabane,’ are having a blockbuster transfer window as they prepare to crack the whip on opponents this season. This past week, the club welcomed South African international Sfiso Myeni into its fold.
The 34-year-old has plied his trade at several teams in the South African Premier League, among them Orlando Pirates, Bidvest Wits and Supersport United. He arrives at the club unattached having not played any competitive football since leaving the then GladAfrica Championship side TS Sporting football club at the end of the 2019/20 season.
Though he has not kicked ball in a while, Myeni’s arrival is expected to inject some life in VTM FC’s debut campaign in Botswana’s second tier league. He is expected to give some professional experience and leadership to the team’s crop of players.
Despite him being a high-profile addition to the team, VTM FC team manager Boitshepo ‘Littah’ Gaegopolwe said his arrival does not change the team’s plans. He said while the team will be competitive, their target for promotion to the elite league is still the same.
“Nothing has changed. Our target for promotion to the elite league is still 2022/23 season. For now, our aim is to settle and establish ourselves as a competitive team in the first division,” the VTM FC team manager explained.
Gaegopolwe said Myeni is expected to help the team settle in the second-tier league. The player has already donned the colours of VTM FC after coming on as a substitute in the team’s last two friendly games.
“So far, we are happy with what we have seen of him in the few minutes he turned out for us against BDF XI and Holy Ghost FC this past weekend. Every time he got in, he made a noticeable difference to our team and we are happy with that,” he explained.
While his match fitness may not be at par with his teammates who have had only two weeks break since the end of their season, Gaehopolwe said Myeni is not that far from reaching desired fitness levels. In fact, he is expected to play more minutes this coming weekend when VTM FC hosts four teams ‘Pre-Season One Day Tournament’ at its MmaMhiko based VTM Arena.
The four teams in the tournament are VTM FC, elite league teams Extension Gunners and Masitaoka football club as well as Kweneng Regional football club Majweng sporting club of Molepolole. The first game, which will be between VTM FC and Extension Gunners will kick off at 0800hrs while the second game, a Molepolole derby between Masitaoka FC and Majweng is expected to be played at 1000hrs.
Teams in the losing end will then go on to battle it out in the losers finals at 1400hrs with the winners meeting in the finals at 1600hrs. Spectators at the games will be charged P30 entrance fee and an extra P5 for those with cars. Meanwhile, Gaegopolwe said the team will be selling stalls to vendors who wish to sell at the grounds during the tournament. Stalls will go for P50 for snack stalls, P100 for food stalls and P150 for alcoholic beverages stalls.
