Free scoring GU look to bombard Ostriches
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday January 26, 2018 16:49
It will be a tough ask for last year’s finalists to redeem their lacklustre season in the lucrative cup against the Reds who are proving to be one of the most potent sides going forward.
The Ostriches are fresh from a 2-0 battering at the hands of their diamond brothers, Jwaneng Galaxy. The on-song Reds, on the other hand, are fresh from a 6-2 demolition of Mochudi Centre Chiefs.
GU are in a rich vein of scoring form both in the league and in cup competitions. The squad has transformed swiftly to the attacking fluid that their Argentine coach, Rodolfo Zapata, preached when he took charge a season and half ago.
In their past five games, they have scored 17 goals, which accounts for over half of their total goals tally of the season.
They were also the high scorers in the quarter finals of the Top 8 when they kicked out Extension Gunners with an aggregate scoreline of 6-2, after a 3-0 win at home and 3-2 away win.
Their strikers Tumisang Orebonye and Obonye Maome are relentless and are expected to cause usual problems with Dirang Moloi and Thatayaone Kgamanyane orchestrating behind them. Maome is a hot contender for the yellow boot with five goals from the semi-finals.
The Ostriches' defensive line should be alert to this quadruple attack if they are to quell the Reds. The tried and tested back four of skipper Thabang Mosige, Lesenya Ramoraka, Kealeboga Molebatsi and Olekantse Mambo will be have to be on high alert. Statistics show Orapa have not been tight enough of recent and that could spell danger against Orebonye. They have conceded seven times in the past five games.
Their goalkeeping department is also suspect; Mosimanegape Robert has not found his magic gloves since returning from injury.
Their hopes will be on the good form of midfield destroyer, Tapiwa Nyamanjiva and the bully Ronald Chikomo to off-set Moloi and Kgamanyane.
They have brought in Lesego Galenamotlhale and Jerome Ramatlhakwane in the ongoing transfer window, but the two are cup tied. Gift Moyo, Omaatla Kebatho and Kobamelo Kebaikanye will carry the hopes of the Ostriches going forward.
Onkabetse Makgantai might be a late inclusion, as the Ostriches confirmed they are in fruitful talks with both the DRC Football Association and AS Vita to process the player’s transfer.
The technical team of the Ostriches also has astute tacticians in Bongani Mafu and Daniel Nare and their combined brains will be fundamental against the Reds.
The Reds have previously tasted the Ostriches blood at Itekeng, but the Orapa boys also know how to dismantle the Reds. Zapata’s men won twice in the mining town and their recent win at Itekeng was last season when they edged the Ostriches 1-0.
The two sides met nine times since the Orapa-side gained promotion in 2013 and the Ostriches won six times and drew once. Ostriches scored 10 against GU and conceded five in the nine games.
Both sides know the secret to the Top 8 finals. GU have appeared in the finals twice and in both occasions won the cup, the Ostriches also appeared twice and won once on their maiden appearance.