Galaxy dig deep to edge GU, eye CAF return
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday May 19, 2026 08:46
Galaxy booked their place in the next stage after grinding out a narrow 1-0 win over GU at the National Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Mpatane revealing that the team travelled into the match with only 11 fit players available for selection.
Speaking after the game, he said the circumstances forced his technical team to approach the contest cautiously, particularly in defence, while also carefully managing substitutions.
“We only had 11 fit players heading into this game. The boy who scored the goal, Kgotso had been brilliant for us this season but never trained this week, he had been sidelined,” Mpatane said.
The gaffer added that the team had anticipated a physically demanding encounter that could have stretched into extra time, forcing them to delay changes from the bench.
“We had to wait before making subs. We anticipated that there is going to be extra time. The boys had to sacrifice themselves,” he said.
Mpatane noted that Galaxy could not afford to gamble at the back against an adventurous GU side that committed numbers forward in search of a breakthrough.
“We couldn't take risks in defence. It worked for us with GU throwing their fullbacks, Velaphi and Johnson forward, we thought this is the right time to introduce the boys to get behind their fullbacks, and it worked for us,” he said.
Galaxy’s disciplined display ultimately paid dividends as they absorbed pressure and capitalised on spaces left by their opponents.
The result keeps alive the club’s hopes of retaining the cup title and returning to continental football.
Attention now shifts to a potentially explosive showdown against Mochudi Centre Chiefs as Galaxy continue their quest to defend the trophy.
The mining side is also targeting a return to CAF inter-club football next season, an objective that remains high on the club’s agenda.
Having previously represented Botswana with distinction on the continental stage, Galaxy view cup success as another important step towards reclaiming a place amongst Africa’s elite clubs.
Despite the injury crisis, Mpatane expressed satisfaction with the commitment shown by his squad, describing the victory as a product of resilience and tactical discipline.
His counterpart from Gaborone United, Sean Conor, said he was to blame for the loss after GU's league-cup double dream were diminished.
'It was a highly tactical game. I think the mistake that I did, I probably think I should have made the substitutions five minutes earlier and brought in fresh legs.
'This was a game between two of the best teams in the country, it was always going to be cagey. I take the blame for the loss. I am disappointed with results,' Conor said.
The teams:
GU: Tshepo Motswagole, Alford Velaphi, Mothusi Johnson, Tatenda Gora, Ivan Kamberipa, Mpho Kgaswane, Lebogang Ditsele, Thatayaone Kgamanyane, (Omphile Ramoagi) Aubrey Amseb, Godfrey Tauyatswala, Karabo Phiri
Galaxy: Goitseone Phoko, Thabo Leinanyane, Tebogo Kopelang, Chicco Molefe, Lesego Kereedilwe, Manda Nongo, Keitumetse Samunzala, Gift Moyo, Neo Mokgachane, Katlego Makgwa, (Radithongwa), Omaatla Kebatho
GU 0 Galaxy 1 (Radithongwa 90th)