GU moves closer to maiden title
Gaborone United (GU) women’s team is rubbing its hands in anticipation of lifting its maiden Gaborone Region Women’s Football (GACFA) Division 1 title. The Reds could be a point away from the league title depending on the outcome of a matter between the club and FC Ambassadors. The two teams were to play on April 28, but FC Ambassadors did not show up for the fixture and face the wrath of the league’s disciplinary committee.
A verdict on the matter was expected last evening and the Reds in all likelihood, would get three points. The three points will take GU three points above second-placed, Double Action ahead of the league’s final round this Saturday. Last week, GU moved to 34 points and level with Double Action following a hardfought 2-1 win over the reigning champions in the previous weekend.
Ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, GU would need just a point to clinch their maiden title. The Reds face bottom-placed Big Sisters tomorrow in a league match scheduled for the Lekidi Grounds at a 3:30pm kick-off time.
It will be a moment to savour for the Gaborone-based side after gaining promotion from the second tier two years ago. The team has been on the rise since the promotion and are now just a point from dethroning Double Action from the women’s football top seat. Double Action has won every league title since the formation of the regional leagues in 2017. It could be a walk in the park for the unbeaten GU as they face winless Big Sisters. The Reds are enjoying a seven-game winning streak and only dropped points in a 1-1 draw played against Double Action earlier this season.
The Reds have found the back of the net 49 times, the second best in the league while they have only let in four. Three of the goals were against title rivals, Double Action over two rounds. Big Sisters will have a long 90 minutes to try to keep the star-studded GU side at bay.
GU opponents’ season has been defined by late arrivals on match days and also the inadequate number of players to field on a match day. The problems have led to Big Sisters shipping 62 goals while they scored only six. Big Sisters are already condemned to the second-tier league and play for pride in an effort to spoil GU’s day. A regional league win gives GU a place in the Southern Block playoffs for one of the four spots in the DTCB Championship. A winner in the national playoff tournament gains a place at the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Police XI will play in the top tier for the first time next season. The Jungle Queens finished second to Township Rollers, as the latter returns to the top flight after two seasons in the lower league. Prisons Ladies accompany Big Sisters to the second tier.