The Reds beat Orapa United 1-0 in an entertaining final played at the National Stadium. A last minute goal from striker, Thatayaone Kgamanyane was enough to hand the title to the team after surviving a scare from Orapa United’s endless attacks throughout the match.
Since the cup's inception and now on its fourth edition, only two teams have managed to win it. The Ostriches were the first side to lay hands on the trophy before GU went on a rampage and winning it for three successive times. The Reds are now the most successful side in the knockout competition and they have now qualified for the CAF Confederations Cup. Coupled with that, left back, Mothusi Johnson is now the most successful player of the tournament after winning the Orange FA Cup for a record four times.
He first won it with Orapa United and moved to GU the following season and went onto to win it with the Reds for the three seasons in a row. Pontsho Moloi has also written his name among the greats after winning his first trophy as the head coach.
The first real chance of the match went GU’s way when Johnson made a good run on the left and beat two defenders but his shot went narrowly wide off the goal. Orapa also had a chance when Atamelang Lesogo delivered a dangerous cross into the box and Lemogang Maswena tried to tap in but his effort went wide.
Thero Setsile then hit the upright before the ball went out much to the relief of Orapa supporters. However, the best chance of the first half went Maswena's way when he received the ball on the edge of the box, with only the goalkeeper to beat but his first touch let him down. Maswena continued to trouble GU defence in the second half and his shot from the right side of the box nearly saw GU defender, Kennedy Amutenya score an own goal. Fortunately for GU the ball went narrowly wide for a corner.
Late in the second half, Orapa United launched another dangerous attack. But an unmarked Omaatla Kebatho missed a glorious chance when he shot straight at the goalkeeper who was already down on the ground. GU’s goal finally arrived in the last minute of the game when Johnson delivered an aerial ball into the box and Kgamanyane pounced on it with a powerful header to send GU supporters and bench into wild celebrations.
“I knew Johnson is one player who likes to deliver crosses into the box and I anticipated that and I made a run into the box,” Kgamayane said about his winning goal. Moloi said he was happy that his players kept probing for a goal and waited patiently until it arrived. Orapa United coach, Tawurayi Mangwiro said his side looked better in the second half but said they did not have precision in front of goals. “We could have dealt better with the situation (GU’s goal) better but congratulations to GU,” he said. Meanwhile, Mothusi Cooper was named the Player of the Tournament while Moloi won the Coach of the Tournament award. Lesenya Malapela was named the Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
The teams:
Orapa United: Lesenya Malapela, Thato Kebue, Tapiwa Nyamanjiva, Thato Seagateng, Koketso Majafi, Kelvin Bingala (Tinashe Chivandire), Gofaone Mabaya, Mpho Kgaswane, Omaatla Kebatho, Atamelang Lesogo, Lemogang Maswena (Wilfred Muvirimi)
GU: Ookeditse Semelamela, Alford Velaphi, Mothusi Johnson, Kennedy Amutenya, Tshepo Maikano, Mothusi Cooper, Karabo Phiri, Thero Setsile, Thatayaone Kgamayane, Sizwe Twala, Mpho Kgaswane
