05 Jun 2023

Botswana’s striker, Tumisang Orebonye’s outstanding performance has aided his club, USM Algiers, to become CAF Confederation Cup champions.

The Algerian club sealed its achievement in the second leg of the final at Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers, Algeria on Saturday.

The club’s win also made Orebonye, the only non-Algerian in its line-up, make history and become the first Motswana to lift the CAF Confederation Cup trophy.

During the cup final match, Botswana’s name was consistently mentioned and its flag flying high.

This drew attention of some football pundits who opined that Orebonye had sold to the continent the country’s ambition of hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

It also did not come as a surprise when Batswana who were watching the game could not stop showering him with accolades on social media.

In a post-match interview, Orebonye said the team had the objective to get a trophy and he was happy that the mission was accomplished.

“It was not all about making history, but my focus was taking each game as it comes in our effort to meet our objective.

But when I look back, here I am my name will always be engraved in Algeria and Botswana’s history books,” he said.

For him, it was also great achievement that USM Algiers was the first team to win the CAF Confederation Cup, which also saw him wrap Botswana’s flag around, a move he said was to show all those who were watching the final that there was talent in the country.

“I am confident that Batswana players are capable and yes, I am also proud of myself, especially that I have hoisted the flag in front of millions who were watching the game.

The onus is on other players to prove that they can play anywhere in the world,” he said.

For Botswana Television sport journalist, Tumo Mpatane, Orebonye was influential during the campaign.

Mpatane was of the view that during the quarter, the semi-finals and particularly in their home leg, Orebonye played wide in the first 45 minutes e and also drifting in from the left to the right side.

That alone, he said demonstrated how the player understood the role the technical team wanted him to play.

“After the 60th minute, he would play up top, where most of the time the team would be struggling or either trying to secure the game.

Again, Mpatane said Orebonye had demonstrated a lot of maturity during the competition and was happy that at the end they were rewarded by being crowned the champions.

According to Mpatane, the images of Orebonye draped in Botswana flag were an indication that he was proud of where he was coming from and also spoke volumes for the country, in terms of marketing it.

“I was counting before half time and Botswana name was mentioned eight times. From the starting line-up when he was on and off the ball, it made reference to the country which he was from.

That alone created value in the biggest way. Orebonye was the only Motswana in the A-team full of Algerians and a Libyan and therefore it speaks well of Botswana which has the ambitions to host the AFCON in 2027,” he said. ENDS