- Olebile’s Rollers scalp fulfills personal 10 year mission to reach a cup final
- Masitaoka FC aiming for first major cup in the club’s history
BONGANI MALUNGA
In February 2011 Nelson Olebile was thrown into the deep end to assume the head coach role at Extension Gunners after Daniel ‘Chicco’ Nare’s decision to leave the club for BMC. His mentor’s exit paved the way for the coaching protege, Olebile, to get his first big taste of life in the dugout as the last line of defence in the technical team.
Olebile was temporarily installed as an interim coach while Gunners were on the hunt for a new permanent coach. The interim coach played a huge role in boosting morale and keeping the team well drilled for the coach in waiting. A relative novice at the time, Olebile seemed relaxed despite the challenge of leading a big club.
The 2011 Coca Cola Cup last 32 encounter against Peace Makers would prove to be his first and only major cup game in charge of the club that season. Gunners ran out 4-1 winners as they knocked Peace Makers out of the competition.
With the imminent arrival of Maxwell Moyo, Olebile’s victory over Peace Makers was his contribution to the club’s eventual cup success. Moyo led Gunners to cup glory as the team went from strength to strength in the competition. Olebile had played a big role in the club’s success but it still felt as if he had just passed the baton.
Fast forward 10 years later, the Orange FA Cup has given him another platform to shine and this time around he has managed to guide a team to a cup final. Olebile’s Masitaoka FC knocked Township Rollers out of the Orange FA Cup semifinals last weekend courtesy of a Patrick Kaunda brace.
This time around Olebile will have a chance to lead a team out in the final and hope to fulfil a lifelong ambition of winning silverware as a head coach. Masitaoka will face Gaborone United in the Orange FA Cup final as they have defied the odds and disrupted expectations of a Gaborone Derby in the final.