17 Feb 2019

- Jwaneng Fighters cruised to the next stage of the Orange FA Cup after they fought gallantly to beat Digodi of Mmankgodi 3-1 through penalties.

The two sides  played to a goalless draw in a muddy field which made it difficult and dangerous for the players due to the slippery surface.  They also boast experience in the form of former premier league players with Moemedi ‘Jomo’ Moatlhaping playing for Digodi while Boitumelo ‘Navara’ Mafoko and Raphael Nthwane donned Fighters colours.

This brought excitement especially to the supporters of the two teams who yearned for a duel between the experienced players.

Hosts Digodi were the first to make their intentions known, driven by the 12^th player as almost the entire village came to rally behind their team.

Fighters’ defence was shattered with Digodi playing crosses and mostly reaching unmarked strikers, but no one seemed ready to test Nthwane as instead of taking shots, they passed to their teammates.

Kabelo Dintwe had an opportunity to put his team ahead but Nthwane easily parried the ball for a corner.

In one of the Digodi attacks, Fighters breathed a sigh of relief when the ball was cleared off the line following a melee in the goal mouth. 

At the other end, Fighters also fought hard to get a goal, but the slippery surface made it difficult fr them to control the ball, let alone take a shot.

In one of their attacks, Oteng Mosala made a run to connect with Benjamin Maotwe’s cross, but it proved too powerful. He only had the goalkeeper to beat and a number of supporters had already counted it as a goal.

Lapologang Motlogi could have put Fighters ahead from a free kick but his shot missed by a whisker, much to his disappointment.

Nthwane was the busy goalkeeper of the two, but at recess no ball had gone pass his back.  In the second half the game became more balanced as both teams launched constant attacks, but poor finishing and bad decision making saw the game continuing in a stalemate.

Fighters introduced Ontumetse Osupile for Lapologang Motlogi while Digodi substituted Kabelo Kadisa with Kennedy Mokokwe, trying to add more energy up front.

The bulky Fighters striker, Goareng Bagale had his hands over his head when his shot went wide.

As the game progressed, it became clear that the teams were headed to penalties. Under the Orange Cup rules of Kga Tsho, the teams do not play extra-time, but head straight to penalties.

The penalties were a marvel with Onkarabile Molefe stopping two consecutive penalties and Moatlhaping, who took the first penalty for his team, failing to lead by example as he shot wide.

Nthwane eventually came to the rescue of his team, although he was involved in a short scuffle as some unruly supporter took his towel which he had placed next to the goalposts. The game eventually ended 3-2 with Fighters’ opponents to be known after a draw. ENDS