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12 Mar 2023

Orange FA Cup defending champions, Gaborone United, managed to pull through with a 4-2 score margin against Eleven Angels to proceed to the last 16 at Francistown Old Stadium on Saturday.

Even though the two teams met during a premiership fixture at the same place and probably before the same crowd last Saturday, the cup game was a diametrically different ball game altogether.

GU aka The Money Machine came gun blazing and seemed to have satisfactorily done their homework to stop the giant killers to salvage their pride from the 3-2 assault they suffered at the hands of the premiership greenhorns.

Sweet revenge it must have been for the Orange FA defending champions and Botswana Premier League titleholders.

This time around, Moyagoleele’s gaffer, Pontsho Moloi started with the likes of mid-field maestro Mothusi Cooper whose spick-and-span ball control and composure was a marvel to behold. He gave GU the shape that was lacking in the last encounter.

Including Obonwe ‘Too Longer’ Maome in the first 11 was a cherry on top and seemed to spur on the champions.

Gaborone United began the match by pilling a lot of pressure on Lekgamu-la-bananyana, but were met with a lot of resilience and kept at bay by the solid defence of the hosts who wanted to catch the visitors on the counter.

Eleven Angels’ first attempt at goal in the second minute of the match following a long throw by Shanganani Ngada was dealt with by GU goal-minder Goitseone Phoko.
Eighteen minutes later, Lekgamu-la-bananyana skipper, Bakang Mpatane shot over the bar to the chagrin of Angels fans.

Maome also failed to secure his side a goal during injury time before the end of the first half as he shot over the woodwork.

In the second half, GU continued with their attack mode and Maome was at it again and seemed to have left his scoring boots as he once again thunder bolted over the bar.

The second stanza was nearly spoilt by yellow cards that were given mostly to GU players for both dangerous play and indiscipline.

As the game drew to a close, the two teams’ think tanks brought in fresh legs and experienced players in readiness for the penalty shoot-out.
Interestingly, Pontsho Moloi brought in second-choice goalkeeper Ookeditse Semelamela in place of Goitseone Phoko.

During penalties, Moyagoleele slotted four goals against the hosts’ two to get sweet revenge and proceed to the last 16 of the bopha skelem extravaganza.

Moloi said in a post-match interview he was happy with how things turned out.

“We controlled everything right from the beginning and managed to contain their style of play throughout the game,” he said.

And Angels coach, Seemo Mpatane, commended his charges for holding up their own against GU.

“My boys did very well against a top side. Mind you it was their first experience playing in this cup,  so they acquainted themselves extremely well. Even the three boys that had to replace the other regular first-eleven players who could not play because they had each accumulated two yellow cards needed commendations.

Let me also congratulate Gaborone United for their win today,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maome walked away with the man of the match prize and pocketed P1 500. Ends