07 Jun 2018

A mouthwatering fixture is on the cards June 8 as Botswana and South Africa go head to head in the plate final of the COSAFA Cup at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.

The match affords the two teams an opportunity to save face by winning the plate section after failing to proceed to the main final of the competition.

What makes the fixture interesting is that the two sides met last year in the semi-final of the same competition with Bafana Bafana securing a 2-0 victory over the Zebras.

The Zebras are now a much revamped side compared to last year. With Major David Bright as the new coach, he has assembled a young team of players who are eager to impress and cement their place in the senior team set up.

The Zebras will pin their hopes on the attacking duo of Onkabetse Makgantai and Kabelo Seakanyeng whose combination had resulted in many goals.

Seakanyeng is one of the players who has created the most goal scoring opportunities in the tournament while Makgantai is leading the charts of the top goal scorers with five goals, and is one goal shy of Peter Ndlovu’s record.

Another player who is expected to play a pivotal role is team captain, Alphonse Modisaotsile, though he might be doubtful for the encounter after sitting out the semi-final due to a hamstring injury.

Modisaotsile’s partnership with Godiraone Modingwane has been nothing short of a revelation.

The duo complement each other well and give the team shape on and off the ball. Winning the battle against the likes of Fortune Macaringe and Siphesihle Ndlovu will require them to be up to the task.

On the other hand, Bafana Bafana are a squad dominated by youngsters that have excelled in the Absa Premiership, including the likes of Ndlovu and Macaringe as well as Gift Links who has raised many eyebrows with his performance in the semi-final against Madagascar.

The Zebras head to the plate final after defeating the Kingdom of eSwatini 2-0, courtesy of Makgantai’s early opener and Gape Mohutsiwa’s towering header.

 Bafana Bafana will be upbeat going into the final after a 4-1 thrashing of Namibia.

In a post-match conference, Major Bright admitted that fatigue was starting to wear his players, but he highlighted that their intention was to win the plate cup.

 “We are now left with one hurdle which is South Africa.

Bear in mind that when we came here, our intention was to make it to the main cup final.

Unfortunately we lost to Zimbabwe, but now our intention is to win the plate cup,” said Maj. Bright.

The match is scheduled to kick-off at 5pm. ENDs