�but Galaxy out to clip their wings
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday March 31, 2017 15:53
Just like the defending champions, Orapa United did last season, Galaxy have also equalled the feat, reaching the final at the first attempt.
Galaxy under the tutelage of Mike Sithole, are only in their second season in the Premier League and have not wasted time in proving their mettle in top flight football.
Ahead of the final, Galaxy have had their own misfortunes with two other players joining Sekhana Koko on the sidelines. Early this month, utility player, Tebogo Sosome who has been a pillar for Galaxy since joining them last season, has also been ruled out of this match with an injury.
Now the team will be without exciting attacker, Thero Setsile who is serving suspension. Setsile like other key players including Sesinyi were rested in a league match against Chiefs a fortnight ago.
However, Setsile was introduced in the second half only to receive a yellow card, ruling him out of the crucial final.
Like Orapa United, Galaxy are among the few teams in the league who have depth in their squad. With Sosome out, Boitumelo Mafoko is expected to lead from the middle of the park alongside Olebogeng Malebye while the likes of Moreetsi Mosimanyana and Musa Ohilwe will man the defence.
In the attack, Galaxy also have the arsenal to trouble Orapa United.
With Setsile out, it will be interesting to see how Sithole will line up his team.
Upfront, he has Tebogo Sembowa, Christopher Musonda and Morris Ruzivo at his disposal. Sembowa, like Ronald Chikomo, will be chasing a fourth gold of the competition.
He has won it three times already, twice with Gaborone United (GU) and once with Township Rollers. Sithole also has Sesinyi, Lesego Lubinda and Gilbert Baruti as supporting attackers.
Journey to the finals
Having finished seventh in their debut season in the elite league, Galaxy were drawn against Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the quarterfinals of this year’s edition of the knockout competition.
Chiefs had finished runners up in the league.
The two sides fired blanks in the first leg before Galaxy progressed through a 2-0 aggregate score following Galaxy’s 2-0 home win in the second leg.
In the semi finals, Galaxy once again found themselves away in the first leg, this time to BDF XI.
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Thabang Sesinyi’s solitary strike was enough to hand them an important win away. BDF XI came back stronger in the second leg, but could not get a victory with the match ending 3-3.
Galaxy reached their first final in their first appearance in the competition through a 4-3 aggregate.
Thabang Sesinyi is an instrumental figure in the Galaxy line up. Sesinyi will be making his second successive appearance in the final.
This time he will appear on the other side of the pitch as an opponent to the defending champions.
Sesinyi will be remembered for his second half display after his introduction against Rollers in last year’s final. He scored the second goal before Onkabetse Makgantai wrapped up the match.