06 May 2024

A goal by Thatayaone Nkwapa from a penalty kick on the stroke of full time against Police XI Saturday afternoon at the National Stadium has secured  UB Hawks, a a semi-final spot  in the Orange FA Cup.

Basco Boys as UB Hawks is affectionately known was the only team playing in the lower division to make it to the quarter final among the premier league teams.

In addtion to qualifying for the quarter final stage after defeating VTM FC in a penalty shootout, the Basco Boys are now in the semi-final after eliminating yet another premier league giant Police XI, and now eyeing a spot in the cup’s final.

In a post-match interview, UB Hawks coach, Alex Malete who could not hold his excitement,  praising the players and the supportive technical team for his achievement.

Malete, who is also the head coach for the women’s national team, The Mares, which has also qualified for WAFCON stated that going to the semi-final stage of the Orange FA Cup was a historic achievement for his young team.

“I am happy that the team continues to make some historic achievements,” he said adding that the ongoing season five of the Orange FA Cup started when his team was still in division one.

“We started with the cup when we were at division one and gained promotion to first division south while the cup was still on,” he said and noted that the team was doing well and the players deserved what they had achieved so far, for working hard.

Malete said his team was now fighting two battles at the same time. With one eye on the Orange FA Cup, the Basco Boys occupied position four in the First Division South log and therefore, hopeful of securing the promotional play offs position two.

“We want to finish both the league and the cup on a high,” he said. Malete said the possibility of facing the premier league in the semi-final could not be avoided and therefore, his team must be ready to continue with the fight and overcome the big boys.

“We are ready to face any opponent. We are making a name for ourselves, whoever comes our way must be prepared for a fight,” he said.

Malete was of the view that the current positives were a result of a process that started way back. He said his intention was to grow as a coach adding that he was always ready and eager to encounter challenges.

He said any team that would make it to the semi-final of a cup would be focused on winning the gold, therefore, with a team of young and committed players they deserved to be rewarded somehow.

On the other hand, Police XI coach Nelson Olebile said his team was equally determined to continue with the Orange FA Cup and that it was unfortunate to exit in the quarter final. Even though disappointed by the setback Olebile has applauded the Basco Boys for the win, adding that their hard work paid off.

Meanwhile, Township Rollers were booted out 1-2 in another quarter final match by arch-rivals, Orapa United.

The Ostriches got the lead in the 27th minute through Koketso Majafi from a penalty kick. The Ostriches extended their lead with a second half goal in the 53rd minute through Eric Ookame.

However, Popa-popa got a consolation goal through Mogakolodi Ngele free-kick in the 62nd minute.

The Ostriches coach, Tiiso Gadimang said the game was a tough encounter as it was a battle between previous winners of the cup.

Gadimang said he aware that technically, Rollers would have an upper hand, therefore giving them room in mid-field would mean dominating and taking control of the game.

Despite starting the league on a low note, Orapa United appeared to have gradually gained momentum improving their position of the log and eventually finding themselves in the semi-finals of the lucrative Orange FA Cup.

Coach Gadimang said the team worked hard, moving to its current sixth position on the log and focusing on a top four finish. He said celebrating the semifinal spot in the cup would be short lived as the focus was now diverted to the league.

Township Rollers coach, Innocent Morapedi said exiting the cup and Jwaneng Galaxy running away with the league was the greatest loss for his team as the possibility of finishing the league empty handed was highly possible.

He said a team could not win a game by missing chances, noting that the league was far beyond their reach, and chances of getting the cup were buried and therefore, it will be probable to focus on the coming season.

Morapedi said there was no way that his team was to win the cup quarter final encounter against the Ostriches without scoring. “We played but our efforts were not enough. There was no way that one could deny that the foul on the box against Orapa United was a penalty, it was an unnecessary foul,” he said.

TAFIC FC has also secured a semi-final spot in the cup after defeating Sua Flamingoes FC 1-0 in Francistown. Ends