Red, Orange battle for Orange honours
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday June 23, 2023 15:51
GU go into the season four finals on the back of a 14-game unbeaten run in the Orange FA Cup. It is a battle of pride and history as the two teams are the most successful in the Orange Botswana-sweetened FA Cup. The Reds’ 14-game Orange FA Cup stretches from the season two edition of the competition. The team last tasted defeat in the Orange FA Cup on March 2019, in a 1-0 loss to Extension Gunners. Orapa United are in their second Orange FA Cup final and will be looking to make a 100% win record. Moyagoleele has raked 14 straight wins and two titles along the way since their defeat to Gunners in 2019. This makes GU the most successful team in the Orange Botswana-sponsored tournament with two out of three wins. The Reds were off to a rather worrying start in their title defence this season. The first two wins were after the team was taken to penalty shootouts.
In this Orange FA Cup edition, GU are a team that is unsettled when playing against a matching opponent. A win over minnows Mogoditshane Fighters brought the hope back while a semi-final win in the Gaborone derby tie against Rollers will give the team an extra ounce of confidence. GU are looking to make a third consecutive Orange FA Cup victory. The Ostriches would welcome the underdog tag ahead of the final and remains the only team, besides GU, to taste the competition win. The team is eyeing its second Orange FA Cup which will equal GU’s wins. The team’s coach, Taurai Mangwiro would be a worried man ahead of the final tie as his side failed to find the back of the net in open play in the last three rounds. Despite having attacking arsenal, the Ostriches have been barren and will look to turn their fortunes around in the final match. Both teams are looking to return to the Africa inter-club competition and a win on Saturday will guarantee a spot in next season's CAF Confederations Cup.
Players to watch
Mpho Kgaswane (Gaborone United) He is a big game player and the GU skipper is expected to lead his side to victory on Saturday. Kgaswane has proven throughout the campaign that he would pop up with a moment of magic whenever his team needs him the most. The playmaker has an eye for goal and possesses great vision and intelligence while he has improved in his defending aspect of the game.
Omaatla Kebatho (Orapa United) He failed to carry his league-scoring form into the FA Cup run. This could be probably because his team has overall been poor in front of the goal. However, Kebatho is that ‘fox in the box’. The forward is good in the air, possesses good shot power and excites with his movement off the ball.
Road to final
Gaborone United Last 32: 0-0 (4-2 pen) Eleven Angels Last 16: 1-1 (3-0 pen) CRACKiT CityPolar Quarterfinal: 6-0 Mogoditshane Fighters Semi-final: 2-0 Township Rollers
Orapa United Last 32: 1-0 Nico United Last 16: 0-0 (4-2 pen) Extension Gunners Quarterfinal: 0-0 (3-1 pen) Jwaneng Galaxy Semi-final: 0-0 (4-3 pen) Masitaoka
FA Cup Wins GU: Eight times (most successful team in the competition) Orapa: One time
Full list of Orange FA Cup awards nominees
Player of the tournament Kelvin Bingala (Orapa United) Mpho Kgaswane (Gaborone United) Mothusi Cooper (Gaborone United) Prize: P50,000
Goalkeeper of the tournament Thabo Motswagole (Masitaoka) Lesenya Malapela (Orapa United) Ookeditse Semelamela (Gaborone United) Prize: P20,000
Coach of the tournament Mandla Mpofu (Masitaoka) Pontsho Moloi (Gaborone United) Taurai Mangwiro (Orapa United) Prize: P20,000
Top goalscorer Prize: P30,000
Referee of the tournament Prize: P20,000
Assistant referee of the tournament Prize: P20,000
What you need to know Ticket Prices: P60 (Grand Stand), P40 (Panda Stand), P20 (North and South stands) Venue Capacity: 22,500 Projected weather conditions: Sunny with temperatures at a maximum of 23 Celsius. Ten percent chances of rain. Humidity is at 60% and wind would blow at 10km/h. Entertainment: DJ La Timmy and Han C Gate Open: 12noon Kick-off: 3pm