BONGANI MALUNGA
Gaborone United and Extension Gunners will reignite one of the country’s traditional cup ties this weekend as they clash in the round of 32 of the Orange FA Cup. GU are still limping following their Mascom Top 8 defeat while Gunners suffered a morale demoralizing defeat against Township Rollers recently.
GU, the joint most successful club in FA Cup history, has a good record in cup competitions but they are aware that in a cup tie reputation carries little weight as Gunners will also be on a mission to take a step to end their seven year trophy drought.
GU were the last recorded champions of the FA Cup in 2012 while Gunners have not lifted a major trophy in local football since their 2011 triumph against Motlakase Power Dynamoes. The clubs will lock horns at the National Stadium on Friday at 8pm at the National Stadium. GU coach Philemon Makhwengwe expects a tricky tie but he told Gazette Sport that he is relishing the challenge, the coach revealed that his team has a clean bill of health with no major injuries reported. Their only concern is the likelihood that Godwin Osei-Bonsu could be suspended for the tie, the coach revealed that they are set to confirm with the Botswana Football Association and the Botswana Premier League if Bonsu has accumulated enough cards to warrant an automatic suspension.
“We are taking this game seriously, we learned a lot from from the Mascom Top 8 final and the Security Systems game. Our mistakes in the final were psychological than tactical. A cup game is different as we all know, we might field younger players to complement the experienced group. Playing younger players is not a risk, for a cup competition you need pace and speed. The junior players have been training since Sunday, on Monday the senior players returned as well,”said Makhwengwe.
Orange FA Cup Fixtures
Friday
GU vs Extension Gunners (National Stadium, 8pm)
Township Rollers vs Santa Greens (Serowe Sports Complex, 7.30 pm)
Saturday
BR Highlanders vs UF Santos (Mahalapye Railway Ground, 4pm)
Sand Diamonds vs Black Peril (Tshane Prisons Ground, 4pm)
Kazungula Fighters vs Calendar Stars (Kasane Prisons Ground, 4pm)
Sua Flamengoes vs Sankoyo Bush Bucks (F/town City Council Stadium, 2pm)
GNT vs Miscellaneous (F/town City Council Stadium, 4pm)
Notwane vs Red Sparks (Tlokweng VDC Ground, 4pm)
Police XI vs Sharps (Molepolole Sports Complex, 3.30pm)
Black Forest vs Security Systems (Molepolole Sports Complex, 6.30pm)
Peace Makers vs Orapa United (Bobonong Show Grounds, 2pm)
Nico United vs BDF XI (Bobonong Show Grounds, 4pm)
Sunday
Black Rangers vs Jwaneng Galaxy (Tsabong VDC Ground, 4pm)
TAFIC vs Prisons XI (F/town City Council Stadium, 4pm)
Atlanta Chiefs vs Jwaneng Fighters (Molepolole Sports Complex, 3.30pm)
Mochudi Centre Chiefs vs Gilport Lions (Molepolole Sports Complex, 5.45pm)