Impossible is nothing

Thuso Palai | Thursday February 6, 2014 07:43

The two Gaborone based giants got the toughest draws they could have imagined, and maybe this is an opportunity for them to show that they can mix it with the African elite. The two teams play established sides in their own leagues, who are better resourced and have played in the CAF competitions, and have gone very far. However, football is not played by resources and all is dependent on what happens in the 180 minutes of the game over the 2 legs. Although the 2 local sides are the under dogs; impossible is nothing.  

Magosi take on Zimbabwean powerhouse Power Dynamos. The Zimbabwean side is an established name in African football and has always mixed it up with their West and North African counterparts in the latter stages of the competition. It is no surprise that they are favoured to sweep aside Magosi. The Mochudi side has been dominating local football, but have not made much of a mark in the continental Championships and their supporters are hoping for a much better performance than they put up last year when they were mauled by DRC’s TP Mazembe.  

Gaborone United on the other hand plays South Africa’s Supersport United. Who can ever forget the one time when the 'Money Machine’ turned the tables and knocked out South African giants Orlando Pirates! This is yet another opportunity for GU to turn the tables and knock out the more fancied RSA side. Under the tutelage of experienced and charismatic Major David Bright, Gaborone United has blown hot and cold, and this is a tie for them to blow hot. Anything other than that will result in a short stay in the competition. Major Bright has experience and his stint in the RSA League will help him a lot. He comes up against a coach in Cavan Johnson who I presume has crossed swords with Bright at club level in the RSA League. 

As is customary with our teams, the issue of money has reared its ugly head again. Once again, the teams’ preparations have been hampered by off the field but monetary issues, and there were speculations that they might pull out. Thanks God they didn’t.  I hear that Magosi will fly out to Zimbabwe on Saturday for their Sunday clash. Honestly speaking, that doesn’t sound right. It means they won’t even have a chance to train on the field they will in on Sunday.  These off field issues do sometimes affect players. 

Despite the challenges and the tough draw, Batswana are hopeful of favourable results. It is a pity and rather, unfortunate that our teams always struggle and seldom make it to the group stages of the CAF competitions. This has prompted others to say we are only ’participants’ and not ‘competitors’, as we have no hope of ever winning these CAF tourneys, let alone get to the group stages. All that said and done, all the best to Magosi and the Money Machine as they try to conquer Africa.