Peacemakers prepare for First Division sojourn
PALAPYE: A relatively known coach, Rebagamang ‘Ricco’ Keimetswe had over the weekend broken the Peacemakers duck and delivered the Bobonong club to the elusive Debswana First Division league after four years of trying with no luck.
The club secured their second-tier national league berth at the Serowe Sports Complex after a surreal performance in the promotional playoffs against BIUST FC, Tsabotlhe and Boston. They played to a stalemate with Boston in the first match. Boston lost the last two matches and finished bottom of the table in the tournament. Keimetswe’s side changed gears in the second match beating BIUST 2-0 before emphatically thumping the locals, Tsabotlhe 5-1 to secure a first division north place. The triumph propelled them to a second spell in the national league after they last appeared in the 2005-2006 season. Peacemakers’ last sojourn was short-lived as they were booted out halfway into the season for failing to affiliate.
Club chairperson, Raymond Tshetlhana said they were hitting the ground running in preparations for their rookie campaign of the Debswana league. The club would hold its annual general assembly next week.
He said many issues would be put before the club membership for discussion including sponsorship, player recruitment, compliance and management amongst others. The club lost its investor ahead of the playoffs.
“We have lost our investor recently because of some shortfalls in our agreement. Now we will be giving the club to the community to decide on the way forward,” he said. “There has been great interest from the Babirwa community in Bobonong and across the country, and we anticipate solid preparations that would deliver exciting football once the league takes off.”
For the past four seasons, Peacemakers have been dominant in the Selebi-Phikwe Regional Football Division-One league.
Building up to the playoffs they were runaway league leaders.
When the league was called off at the outbreak of the coronavirus, they were 10 points clear at the top with four games to the end of the campaign. The Keimetswe-led side needed only two points to wrap up the league.
“My mandate was to lead the club to the first division league. I beefed up to balance the squad, and the boys responded to expectations the entire season. I cannot be more fulfilled after our achievements in Serowe. We deserved what we got in the end,” the excited coach said.
For his future, Keimetswe said it had been a while since he improved on his coaching badges and that would be his next focus.
He said he had been in a deliberate leave of absence from football. He had previously led Palapye United to first division promotion as an assistant coach.
“Peacemakers and the playoffs have been a revelation for me. My coaching mojo is back, and now I need to concentrate on improving my (coaching) badges, lest they would disadvantage me going forward,” he said.
He devoted their success to the former club investor who parted with the club ahead of the playoffs for building a strong foundation for the team. He also acknowledged club management for support when times became difficult.