BONGANI MALUNGA
Orapa United have started the season like a team on a mission to win more silverware, the mining town club is yet to taste defeat this season and few would bet against them completing a league and cup double this season. However, despite their impressive unbeaten run and their two point lead at the top of the BTC Premiership table, the club needs to address their ‘Achilles-heel’ of failing to turn draws into wins.
Madinda Ndlovu’s side is two points ahead of closest rivals Township Rollers but the lead should have been wider had the club not dropped points by drawing three away games in a row, lost points that could have seen them with an unassailable lead.
Rollers have been inconsistent this season and they have already suffered two defeats in games they were widely expected to win, the mining side could have capitalized on Popa’s stuttering form but they allowed the Mark Harrison led side to scale down the lead. On paper, the league table makes for good reading for Orapa but they actually have drawn more games than they have won, they have recorded six draws and five wins so far this season. Tipping the scales and winning more matches, especially away games, could help them gain more consistency and cement themselves as legitimate champions-elect.
They have an impressive attacking quartet of Tendai Nyumasi, Lemogang Maswena, Ronald Chikomo and Patrick Lenyeletse who have shown in the past that they are all capable of recording 10 plus goals in a season, the foursome would have to be at their best for Orapa to stand a chance of winning their first ever league title and also defending their Mascom Top 8 title.
Orapa snapped their three game away day winless run with a 3-1 victory over BDF XI this past weekend, goals from Maswena, Nyumasi and second half substitute Zebron Njobvu were enough for Madinda Ndlovu’s charges to record a comfortable win.