Holy Ghost's FA Cup progression to boost coffers
Kabelo Boranabi | Wednesday March 12, 2025 09:38
The punters would have placed their bet on GU ahead of the tie played at the GU Stadium as the Reds are heavily challenging for the league honours and have the most FA Cup wins while Holy Ghost are having a fair season in the second tier league. The Holy Boys had to come from two goals down to take the game to a penalty shootout where they triumphed 5-4 over the Reds. Makwengwe has since revealed that he was tasked with securing a return to the top flight league and has welcomed the FA progression pressure. “It (the progression) is a boost on the team and it is a commitment from my side. It is also pressure on my side because I am here to save the team and all of a sudden they are coming up with results on the other side (FA Cup). This is where they can make money as you know this is a team of limited resources so when it is like this then we should try to advance all the way through and whatever happens will happen,” said Makwengwe.
The Holy Boys were on the back foot from the first whistle as 14 minutes into the tie, Omphile Phale forced a superb close range save from Daniel Kedidimetse. The home side dominated the first half but were let down by poor decision making in the final third. Aobakwe Ntshekisang had Holy Ghost's best chance in the first half as he broke with pace and forced a save from Ezekiel Morake. It took just five minutes into the second half for GU to assert their superiority as Mateus Domingos tapped in Leungo Ratala’s low cross at the end of a good move by the team. It was 2-0 five minutes later when Domingos completed his brace, tapping in after the keeper spilled Omphile Ramoagi’s initial effort. From the bench, Lamorena Batlhophi benefited from a goalkeeping blunder to make it 2-1 on the 63rd minute. The away team made it 2-2 on the 72nd minute after Mogakolodi Sechele beat two markers and curled his effort to the top corner beating a stretching Morake. Molaodi Tlhalefang could have been GU's hero on the day but his effort went over the bar with two minutes to time. Karabo Phiri for GU failed to convert the fourth kick as the Reds were dumped out of the competition in the earliest phase in a long while.
The teams:
GU: Ezekiel Morake, Leungo Ratala, Tshepo Maikano, Mannered Matsikidze (Molaodi Tlhalefang), Thabang Khuduga, Lebogang Ditsile, Mpho Kgaswane, Omphile Ramoagi (Boniface Ramolale), Omphile Phale (Karabo Phiri), Mateus Domingos (Sheikh Sesay), Thatayaone Kgamanyane Holy Ghost: Daniel Kedidimetse, Kennedy Taukobong, Darius Ramere, Pontsho Rankwe, Golebaone Botuka, Emmanuel Sekwena (Lamorena Batlhophi), Arthur Baipusi (Mpho Petrus), Kathata Lekgoba, Kabelo Babusi (Wame Kebalepile(Donald Modukanele ), Mogakolodi Sechele, Aobakwe Ntshekisang
GU 3 (2) Holy Ghost 4 (2)