Hotspurs in the throes of relegation

BTC premiership minnows Mahalapye United Hotspurs are currently in a rut as they are placed last in the 2016/17 log-standings after losing 1-0 to Gilport Lions this past weekend.  To survive relegation Hotspurs must win all their remaining eight games, which is a lot to ask for any team. After 21 games the Mahalapye lads are currently in position 16 with only three wins five draws and 13 losses.However, Hotspurs spokesperson Boniface Disho insists that his team still has a fighting chance despite the seemingly insurmountable odds stacked against them.

“The truth of the matter is that we are not happy about our current position. No team wants to be in such a position and we are trying to survive relegation by all means,” an optimistic Disho said, adding that the standard of their football is good despite failing to use their chances to score.

“We can manage five draws even if we do not have a head-coach sitting at the   bench during the game.”  The team has been without a headcoach for most of the season with the goalkeeper coach as a stand in. Disho said the No. 1 candidate to takeover the team is experienced coach Maxwell Moyo who is often spotted at the side-lines of Hotspurs’ games. “We could have hired Moyo by now but the process is complicated and taking too long. We hired a consultant for the job but he has failed to deliver so we have to start all over again.”

Disho said the team also must contend with the cost of running the team, which is way higher that the grant they receive from the Botswana Premier League. “It   is hard for us to attract a sponsor as Hotspurs remain a community team. We appeal to our supporters to attend games in larger numbers especially when we play at our home ground in Serowe.” Disho said they need team supporters to band together and buy replica jerseys to supplement the team’s income. In other matters Disho lamented what he deems as appalling refereeing standards in the Botswana Premier League. He said league referees have a negative attitude towards teams that are struggling. Hotspurs are currently joined by Green Lovers at position 15 and Nico United at 14th in the relegation Zone. The Mahalapye outfit faces Sankoyo Bush Bucks in their next fixture.