Zebras serve Bafana cold revenge

Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday May 26, 2015 18:00

Glimpse into the future: Zebras' midfielder Mpho Kgaswane produces an exquisite pass to pick out Joel Mogorosi and send Clayton Daniels the wrong way during Sunday's COSAFA Cup quarterfinal tie against SoutH Africa in Moruleng. PIC: KABO MPAETONA

The rising noise was a clumsy attempt at intimidating Zebras goalkeeper, Kabelo Dambe as Botswana handed South Africa a 7-6 defeat in the quarterfinals of the COSAFA Challenge Cup. It appeared Dambe had been sedated as he collapsed in despair with the ball moving in the opposite direction.

The ball appeared headed for the far corner, but within a blink of an eye, disaster struck for the South Africans.

The ball cannoned off the upright and mockingly rolled back to the kicker. It had taken eight years, but finally Bafana had been vanquished. Dambe found immediate strength and picked himself up as he wheeled away in celebration.

His teammates were already half way down the length of the Moruleng pitch to join in the celebration as the bragging rights were firmly in the bag.

The South Africans crumbled to the ground and Moruleng fell silent. Only the black and blue voices pierced the Moruleng night sky.

The Zebras had progressed to the semi-final of the regional COSAFA Senior Challenge for only the third time.

The famous Southern African derby win torched fresh belief that the regional trophy might be headed to Gaborone.

South Africa is history; Zambia were left reeling after a penalty shoot-out agony while the four time champions, Zimbabwe had long arrived in Harare after defeat at the hands of Namibia.Despite the path towards the final looking clearer than the hazy Moruleng night sky, Zebras coach, Peter Butler urged caution.

“We have to be cautious. It is a good win against a good side. It is nice to have the bragging rights.

“I will have a drink today (Sunday night), but it is back to business tomorrow (Monday). We will see how it goes,” Butler told Mmegi Sport in Moruleng on Sunday.

He said it was a tough match against a quality opposition. Butler was spot on in his assessment as South Africa enjoyed territorial advantage, but without the incisive edge.

They pinned the Zebras much of the match, but Oscar Ncenga was colossal in defence.

The towering Township Rollers centre back effectively dealt with whatever was thrown his way. On a rare occasion when he was beaten, Dambe was a reliable cover.

In the midfield, Mpho Kgaswane provided the travelling contingent and those watching at home, a glimpse of what the future holds.

Campaigning in the First Division only in December, the 21year-old’s precise movements proved why perhaps Butler asked him to join the senior team and not the Under-23.

He produced probably the pass of the evening when he picked out a hefty looking Joel Mogorosi late on in the game.

Kgaswane had cut inside just after the half way mark, before deceiving his pursuers with an exquisite pull back, but Mogorosi, looking a touch unfit, was unable to latch on and could not produce his lightning pace.

It was a sweet revenge for the Zebras who have suffered successive defeats at the hands of their illustrious neighbours, with the last meeting ending in a 4-1 defeat in Durban in 2013.

Botswana meet the winner of the quarter-final match between Mozambique and Malawi played last night. Butler is expected to be without Mogakolodi ‘Tsotso’ Ngele who is finalising his move from Platinum Stars to Mamelodi Sundowns. In the other quarter-final, Ghana played Madagascar. The semi finals are on Wednesday, with the final on Saturday.

Winners of the regional tournament pocket R500,000 (aprox. P410,000).