Calendar Stars edge BDF XI to book top 16 spot
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Tuesday March 24, 2026 09:34
The victory comes as a welcome relief for Stars who are currently struggling in the league.
Head coach, Joseph ‘Chippa’ Mokgatha, attributed the win to his team's mindset. He elaborated that the FA Cup is a different ball game compared to the league, where they are under pressure most of the time.
Calendar Stars are currently sitting dangerously on position 15 on the FNB Premiership table.
'We asked players to have a very good run in the FA Cup tournament, and I believe it worked out for us in the game,' he continued.
Mokgacha said his team had a solid plan, leveraging their knowledge of BDF XI from previous encounters which ended in a 1-1 draw and a goalless draw.
He further praised his team's ability to adapt during the tough game.
“The opponents are able to keep the ball very well. We needed to match them in everything they do, but at the same time, we needed a little bit of aggression and power going forward,' he added.
Mokgacha stated that his team has been working on scoring more goals, pointing out that they have scored three goals in their last two games, including the win against Extension Gunners.
'I will give it to the boys because they really worked very hard,' he said. However, he expressed disappointment that one of his standout players was not awarded the man of the match title.
With the FIFA international break on the horizon, Mokgacha sees an opportunity for his team to reset, recharge, and regroup.
'The break will help us refuel, so we can try to fight relegation better,' he said.
Calendar Stars 3 ( Madome 52nd,74th Malhandawire 88th) BDF XI 1 (Rannyena 61st)