Battle of the minds in final
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday March 2, 2018 16:42
Rollers coach, Nikola Kavasovic has to test his wit against Orapa’s Bongani Mafu and his right hand man, Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare. It will be an appropriate stage for both sets of hungry coaches, whose teams have been here before, in 2016 to be precise.
The Ostriches prevailed 3-1 in an exhilarating final played at the same venue before an appreciative crowd. There is a lot at stake in this encounter.
The Ostriches are looking for a ladder to continental competitions, while their opponents are still licking wounds from their last meeting from the same theatre and they will be eager to avenge.
Mafu applauded Nare for a job well done in the build up to the final, but said the road is still long ahead. Nare led the side in the demolition of Gaborone United in the semi finals.
Mafu said they have the entire armoury, polished and ready for battle except players who are cup tied.
The Zimbabwean said the players are working extremely hard and they are showing great determination ahead of the encounter.
He said it remains between him and Nare to prove they are the best leaders for Orapa United. He said the mission is to kill two birds with one stone.
“We did a great job to reach the finals, but these boys have been here for three consecutive finals. They have proven their mettle and now the ball is in our court as the technical team.”
“It is now up to me and Chico to win the cup and prove we are the clever coaches to lead these boys. We have a lot to lose than our opponents,” he said.
Mafu said their mission is to emulate Rollers and take part in CAF and it would be sweeter to beat them and earn their spot.
“That is where we want to see ourselves as well and will make it even sweeter if we go through them. We have prepared our players to have that in the back of their minds. This game means a lot to the entire Orapa United family.”
Kavasovic has shown that he is not on holiday in Botswana. On the road to the final he has served Jwaneng Galaxy a cold revenge. Galaxy kicked out Rollers in the semi-finals last season on their way to winning the cup and the Serbian has returned the favour.
His eyes are now firmly set on Galaxy’s half brothers, the Ostriches.
He took a gamble on Monday against BDF XI to rest his first team that was fatigued following a long trip to Sudan in the CAF Champions League.
Rollers proved their braveness against one of Africa’s top clubs, Al Merreikh and the Orapa technical team will have to be at their best to beat the Serbian mastermind in the chess game.
Kavasovic had not responded to questions at press time.