10 Jan 2017

Mascom Top 8 defending champions, Orapa United will face last year’s finalists and 2012 winners Township Rollers in the semi-finals.

The draw, conducted at Gaborone bus rank on Tuesday, also pitted the 2014 winners, BDF XI against Jwaneng Galaxy in the second semi-final.

Dates and venues for the semi-finals will be finalised at a later date.

United and Rollers clashed in the final last season with the Ostriches securing a 3-1 extra-time victory to lift the title at Francistown Sports Complex.

The draw gives Mapalastina a chance to avenge that defeat. However, United spokesperson Tebatso Hule expressed satisfaction with the draw.

Hule said it did not matter which team they faced, adding that their plan was to go all the way to the finals again.

“In fact, Rollers should be wary of us, since they know who we are. They should be worried because we are the defending champions,” he said in an interview after the draw.

He said their focus now was to despatch Mapalastina out of the competition and reclaim their title.

Rollers public relations officer, Bafana Pheto stated that the draw went according to the wish, describing it a perfect moment to avenge last year’s results.

Pheto said it was fortunate for them to have been pitted against United which also gave them a chance to eliminate the Ostriches in the semi-finals.

He said they had put in place the right plans to carry the team forward and achieve the intended goals despite having lost a coach recently when Mark Harrison left them to join Baroka FC in South Africa.

Meanwhile, BDF XI and Galaxy clash is their first in the Mascom Top 8 competition. ENDS