Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
PHILANI “Beefy” Ncube’s three-match unbeaten run in the Botswana Premier Soccer League went up in flames as he suffered his first defeat of the season as Nico United went down 3-0 to leaders Township Rollers.
Ncube, who is in his debut season in Botswana started off his campaign with 1-0 win against Sua Flamingoes coached by former Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo, a result that was followed by identical 0-0 draws with BBDDF XI and Prisons XI.

Sunday’s defeat to the table toppers saw Nico United slipping a place down the ladder to position nine with five points from four games. Ncube’s side trail league pacesetters Township Rollers by five points.
Gumbo’s Sua Flamingoes, who registered their first win of the season a fortnight ago when they edged Morupule Wanderers 1-0, suffered their third defeat of the season on Sunday as they lost 1-0 to Prisons XI.
The defeat left Sua Flamingoes a place above relegation on position 13 with three points. It might be early into the season, but Gumbo’s side needs to quickly turn around their fortunes and get their campaign back on track.
Former Highlanders coach Mandla Mpofu’s Masitaoka bounced back to winning ways, recovering from last week’s 1-0 defeat to Eleven Angels as they beat Holy Ghost 2-0.

Mpofu has so far amassed the most points among the Zimbabwean coaches in the Botswana Premiership, bagging six points from a possible 12. His side is on position six.
Masitaoka plays host to Police XI in their next assignment, Gumbo will be hoping to get it right at home to Security Systems while Ncube’s Nico United will entertain Mogoditshane Fighters. -@ZililoR



