Where is the FA Cup?

Thuso Palai | Tuesday March 18, 2014 10:25

In Spain, they have the Copa Del Rey, in Italy they have the Copa Italia, in England they have the FA Cup, in neighbouring RSA they have the Nedband Cup, and in Botswana we used to have the Coca Cola Cup. These are all FA Cups. They are played for by the top tier and lower divisions’ teams. They are the Cups that even the novices look forward to every season.

We have seen and got to know about some players and teams through the FA Cups. Some players have made a name for themselves through the FA Cup, and it’s disappointing that we have gone 2 seasons without an FA Cup in Botswana. I got to know about the likes of Desert Xau, Molapo Green Birds, and a few other teams through this Cup, when they sprung surprises and caused upsets, going all the way to the latter stages of this Cup competition against all odds. For the past 2 seasons, there has been a lull. The smaller teams have not had the opportunity to rub shoulders with their more fancied nemesis and have a chance to pull a fast one of the bigger teams.

When KBL ceased their sponsorship of the Coca Cola Cup, we all waited with baited breathe as to who would take over. The BFA top brass made hints that we wouldn’t go long without a sponsor. Well; that was not to be, as two years on, we still don’t have a sponsor for this flagship League competition. Well; it is not a given that we should have it, but the fact that it is played for by all the teams from the different divisions made it very exciting. As things are right now, we only have the Top 8 as our sole Cup competition and that is only played for by the teams that finish in the Top 8 positions in the League. This means that even other teams in the League and the lower divisions do not have a Cup to play for. As far as I know, we could be the only or one of the few countries that does not have a running FA Cup. Even now, the team that plays in the CAF confederations Cup is the one that wins the Top 8, while in the past, it was the team that won the FA Cup, and it could have been any team. With the current dispensation, the pool is limited to only 8 teams. This might be good, or bad, depending on which side of the fence one sits, but for me, it is bad.

You might ask; what am I ranting about? And if it were by me, what would be happening. Simple: have the Cup go on even without a sponsor. I know the BFA is low on funds, but this is one competition that should go on somehow. Well, there would be a lot of Prize money but there will be some action and excitement. I’m pretty sure, the likes of Letlapeng, Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Ferry Wanderous, Molapo Green Birds, Tonota FC long for those days when they would host the likes of Magosi, Popa, The Money Machine in their own back yards and have a chance to pull a Houdini. Someone needs to take the bull by the horns and bring the Cup competition back.