25 Apr 2019

Security Systems head coach Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare is unhappy that his team has had no time to recover ahead of their Orange FA Cup quarterfinal clash with Orapa United on Saturday (April 27).

The two teams will battle it out at Itekeng Stadium in Orapa with a place in the semifinals of the P750 000 cup competition at stake.

Systems were engaged in a midweek league encounter against Sharps Shooting Stars on April 24 night in Lobatse before making the approximately 500km trip to the diamond mining town.

They won the match 2-1 through goals by Thapelo Tlabakwe and veteran striker Kenanao ‘Flo’ Kgetholetsile.

Orapa, on the other hand, played a day earlier, hammering Miscellaneous 6-0 in Serowe.   

“I am more disappointed with the fixture. Orapa (United) played on April 23 and went back to Orapa and managed to recover and prepare for us. But we were fixtured on April 24 and would have not time to rest and train before going to Orapa to compete in a P750 000 competition. Why couldn’t we play on Tuesday as well?” fumed the ‘Alarm Boys’ coach.

Nare said it was sad that the Botswana Football Association competitions committee did not recognise the fact that teams needed to have time to recover from midweek league matches and prepare before they travelled for Orange FA Cup quarterfinals fixtures.

He said the game against the ‘Ostriches’ could have been fixtured for Sunday instead to allow the ‘Alarm Boys’ time to recover.

“The way we are running football in Botswana is a joke. My players have to recover on Thursday (April 25) and Friday (April 26) we travel to Orapa. When are we going to train? But we would go to Orapa and give our best,” he said.

Systems would be aiming to advance to the last four of the FA competition for the first time.

The ‘Ostriches’ on the other hand are playing in the FA Cup for the first time since the team was founded six years ago through a merger of teams such as Orapa Wanderers, Orapa Bucs, Boteti Young Fighters and Swallows.

Meanwhile, Kazungula Young Fighters will welcome Township Rollers in another Orange FA Cup quarterfinal on April 27.

The ‘David against Goliath’ match will be played at Chobe Junior Secondary School ground in Kasane at 3pm.

Kazungula play in the regional Chobe division one league while Rollers are the country’s most successful club.

Rollers last won the FA Cup title in 2010 when they defeated Mochudi Centre Chiefs 3-1 in the final at UB Stadium. 

Other Orange FA Cup quarterfinals will be held at Galaxy Stadium in Jwaneng.

First division side Jwaneng Fighters will welcome premiership side Police XI at 2pm while Jwaneng Galaxy will lock horns with BDF XI in a clash of the giants at 4pm. ENDS