Sweet debut for Jacobs
Chakalisa Dube | Monday May 6, 2024 16:00
The victory against Sua is TAFIC’s best feat in a cup competition since they won the Coca-Cola Cup in 2002. It was also TAFIC’s first win in all competitions since the beginning of April. Jacobs joined TAFIC last week Tuesday after cutting ties with Premier League rookies, Matebele FC. TAFIC will count themselves lucky as they struggled to click for the entire match. Even Jacobs admitted that on the balance of play, his side did not deserve to advance to the semi-finals of the competition. “I don’t think we were not the better team on the day. Sua outclassed us. Not to say that they had many clear-cut chances but on the balance of play, they were the better side. They even forced us to make two early tactical changes,” he said.
The weekend victory was also Jacobs’ first win in 2024 in local football. “If the tables would have turned on me, people would have started questioning the rationale of bringing me on board especially that I did not achieve much success at Matebele,” he alluded. Having spent a few days with the players, the Namibian-born coach also gave an overall assessment of the team. “They are an ambitious team. The good thing is that the club has stakeholders that want the team to grow. You can see even from the crowd that turned up today that the club is destined for greatness. We want to push all the way to the Orange FA Cup Final. We do not know who we will meet in the next round, but we want to go all the way to the final', he also said. Flamingoes head coach, Mandla Mpofu, could not hide his frustration after the final whistle. “It is so painful to lose when you had an upper hand, especially to a team that did not have any shot on target in the first half. We were in charge but if you do not take chances, this is what happens. But if you ask me, I am delighted with the team. It is a team that you can watch and enjoy,” Mpofu said.
He added: “We need to shift our focus on consolidating our position in the top eight. We hear talk that the Top 8 cup will back next season. We really need to be in the Top 8,” he added. Onkabetse Makgantai scored the only goal of the match in the 74th minute after intercepting a poor pass destined to a defender from goalkeeper, Keletso Lekuni.
The teams Sua: Keletso Lekuni, Thato Seagateng, Goitseone Legopelo, Gomotsang Tselaesele, Ngwako Ramokgadi, Marius Kotze (Tendai Nyumasi), Keorapetse Ramakgathi (Mooketsi Leotwane), Kaone van der Westhuizen, Samuel Makgoro (Botshelo Mafoko), Mcebisi Moyo, Bame Morwalela (Nqobile Ndlovu)
TAFIC: Prince Mooketsi, James Dick (Montsi Dichaba), Arnold Obuseng, Kemoneetse Mmangwedi, Shanganani Ngada, Ronny Leagetse, Rebaone Joseph, Tumelo Majola, Keabetse Tiego, Thabiso Bante (Onkabetse Makgantai), Shaun Phillip (Azande Aime)
TAFIC 1 (Makgantai 74th) Sua Flamigoes 0