16 Jun 2019

Orapa United Football Club exorcised the ghost of the 2018 Mascom Top 8 final when they humiliated reigning beMobile Premiership champions Township Rollers  3-0 in the maiden Orange FA Cup final on June 15 to exert sweet revenge to their bitter rivals.

Last year, Ostriches as Orapa United are affectionately christened by their  legions of supporters, were beaten 4-2 by a determined Mapalastina side oozing with confidence

However, on June 15, Orapa United put up a show worth remembering when they outclassed their big spending opponents in a dump squib affair at the Francistown Sports Complex to be crowned the first Orange FA Cup champions walking away with a prize money of P700 000.

The game, which started on a low tempo never lived up to  cup final reputations as both teams adopted a very cautious approach.

Former Township Rollers assistant and Zebras caretaker coach, Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote  proved his tactical acumen against Argentinian journeyman, Rudolpho Zapata and came out tops with bragging rights.

From the first whistle it was evident that Mpote’s game plan was to nuetralise the dangerous Rollers midfield marshaled by Mothusi Cooper and starve it off ball possession.

The plan worked as Cooper and Maano Ditshupo spent the afternoon defending deep into their areas with little room to maneuver any offensive forays into the United goalmouth.

Rollers looked lost as early as the 10th minute and struggled to string together a few clinical passes amongst themselves.

While Segolame Boy with his mercurial educated left foot tried hard to penetrate the Orapa United defence manned by Mpho Kgaswane, Tapiwa Nyamanjiva, Mooketsi Hlabano and Mothusi Johnson, his solo efforts were not enough to unlock the watertight defence.

Orapa United showed its intentions as early as the 13th minute with former Tafic dangerman, Mbatshi Elias striking a well-taken pile driver, which came his way past Keagile Kgosipula to give the diamond miners an early lead.

The stunning strike injected life into an otherwise dull game, which had failed to live to the reputation of cup games until the goal.

The goal was a result of a devastating counter-attack from the Ostriches, which had been orchestrated from the middle of the park.

Of the two rival fans, Orapa United were the boisterous of the two and spent the whole afternoon making the most noise and standing up when their team was in the offensive.

Each time their team scored a goal, the fans seemed delirious with joy waving their team flags to express their joy.

While the Ostriches attacked with intensity and aggression, Mapalastina failed to match the drama with any sense of purpose. Rollers play left spaces at the back, which exposed them to counter attacks from Mpote’s charges, who seemed to relish the chance to exert revenge at any cost.

Rollers, to be honest, never pitched up in this game and were found wanting, especially in the middle of the park as they committed a comedy of errors losing possession willy-nilly to their opponents in the process putting themselves under unnecessary pressure.

Orapa United doubled the lead soon after as hardman Omaatla ‘Dunga’ Kebatho scored with a header after a fantastic delivery from Tendai Nyumasi in the Rollers’ box.
Immediately after that, it was an Orapa United show on display as the league champions looked mediocre failing to clear passes in their dangerzone. Rollers were lucky not to concede after Orapa United were awarded a penalty, which Kgosipula saved from a Kebatho spotkick.

Kebatho, renowned for powerful shots opted to take a soft shot from the spot, which the Rollers shot stopper coolly parried away, saving his team from misery early in the second half.

The experienced Joel Mogorosi on the day failed to come to Rollers’ rescue as he wasted many chances, which came his way.

Ofentse ‘Size 10’ Nato was solid at the back but was kept busy by a marauding Orapa United teeming with talent in the likes of Lemogang Maswena, Gofaone Mabaya and Kelapile Ndlovu.

Nyumasi sealed the game for Orapa United with a long range effort, which gave his team a 3-0 advantage.

From the third goal, it was Orapa United all the way as Rollers were forced to play on the back foot for the entire duration of the game.

At the end of the game many of the dejected Rollers fans did not wait to witness the crowning of Orapa United and headed for the exist as soon as possible as they could not stomach that sight.

For the neutrals, the game was a spectacle worth watching and when the blarring music spectacle was on display, they savoured every minute of the maiden Orange FA cup final. ENDS