After a long season, the curtains come down on the Bet9ja Socialiga football league when defending champions, Saints FC, take on newbies, Ranieri Ghost FC , in Saturday’s final.
The final will see two conference champions, Saints, who won the Island, and Ranieri, their counterparts from the mainland, pit their wits against each other.
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Tagged the Christmas festival, both sides will attempt to make history, in what has been a successful season two of the football league. For the champions, Saints, they could become the first side in the history of the competition to retain the league title, in addition to the Super Cup they won earlier in the season.
This will make them also the first side to win two titles in a single season. Raneiri Ghost are also on the path of history, though inexperienced they might be. It’s their first time competing in the league, and could be on the verge of becoming the first team from the Mainland to win the title.
They both kicked off their campaigns in contrasting fashion, with Saints winning four of their first five games, and drawing the other, while Ranieri failed to register a goal or win in their first three.
The Crystal Palace of Socialiga? Well, not exactly but close to that. They did rediscover their mojo, and there was no stopping them this time.
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For Saints, they aren’t new to the terrain, winning eight of 11 games, scoring a league high 20goals and conceded just a miserly five. Then came the conference semi-finals and finals, which was keenly contested especially for Ranieri, who needed extra time to see off Royals FC 3-1, before sending favourites, Bravos Knights, packing via a penalty shootout.
It was an easier route for Saints, who emerged champions of the Island conference, drawing bye in the semifinal before making mince meat of The Guns FC, who forgot to come along with any sort of ammunitions to the battlefield, with a comfortable 3-0 thrashing in the final.
So, there you have it, the final is superbly poised, as these teams know where the net is. Saints are top scorers, while Ranieri Ghost have kept the most clean sheets.
Finally, all is not lost for the runners-up in both conferences- The Guns FC and Bravos Knights, as they will have to navigate a play-off to determine the third best team of the 2017 season.
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Who will win the finals on Saturday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section. Don’t forget, at Socialiga, it’s more than just a game.
