12 Mar 2020

After bagging the Mascom Top 8 trophy last week, Orange FA cup defending champions,  Orapa United will be in a confident mood when they face Gaborone United (GU) in the last 16 encounter of the cup billed for Itekeng Stadium in Orapa March 13.

While GU, alias Moyagoleele are no push-overs, it is anticipated that the Ostriches will want to prove that their cup win against Township Rollers was not a fluke.

Moreover, the Ostriches will be  playing in their home ground and will likely want to please their followers. 

The team from the diamond-mining town advanced to the last 16 after hammering Mogoditshane Fighters by five goals to one at the Otse Sports Complex last month. GU will be cognizant of the fact that they will be entering the lion’s den because Orapa United has never lost an FA tie at home.

However, Moyagoleele as GU is affectionately known by its die-hard fans, will take solace from the fact that they emerged victorious in their league encounter played at Itekeng Stadium a month ago.

They too advanced to the last 16 after brushing off Black Forest, and now they find themselves up against a team which wants to establish itself as cup specialists.

Moyagoleele are also a rejuvenated lot and enjoying a good run under Pontsho Moloi, which has seen them unbeaten in four games since he ascended to the hot seat. The clash, according to football pundits, will headline this week’s Orange FA cup fixtures because the two teams have formidable squads that can cause an upset at any given time.

In other fixtures, Notwane will be playing hosts to BDF XI at Molepolole Sports Complex at  7pm today while on Saturday, four fixtures will be played around the country at different venues. Jwaneng Galaxy will entertain first division outfit, Mochudi Rovers in Mochudi at 3:30pm.  Sua Flamingoes will take on the wounded Township Rollers in Sua at 3:30pm, and they will be looking to inflict more pain on Township Rollers. Police XI and Prisons XI will lock horns to determine who amongst them is the boss.

Diamond Chiefs, who humiliated Lobatse giants Extension Gunners in the last 32, will face the high flying Masitaoka who are leading the pack in the Debswana First Division South. On Sunday, there will be two fixtures that will see Broadhurst United face Mahalapye Railways at SSG grounds at 3:30pm while Calender Stars will battle it out with Jwaneng Fighters in Francistown at the same time.

The encounters have proven in the past that it is not easy to predict the winner as the so-called small teams keep on causing upsets.

This was evidenced by most of the last 32 results which ended in a stalemate, and the winners had to be decided on penalty shoot-outs.

The Itekeng game kicks off at 7pm. ENDS