It is a well known fact that in Botswana most football teams, especially those in lower leagues, do not have sponsors. The money that lower league teams get from cup competitions such as the Orange FA Cup can be the difference between financial security and crisis even though it is not enough to sustain them throughout the season. From time immemorial, cup competitions in Botswana have offered lower league clubs the opportunity to dream that their teams could defeat a club a division or two above them or go all the way and win the cup itself. The benefits of playing in cup games are many: the higher lower clubs progress in the cup, the more money they will generate. So it is inevitable that the ‘small guns’ will not want to be eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the Orange FA Cup, which means making it to the first round and beyond and a chance to play against the ‘big guns’.
The Orange FA Cup will also offer players the opportunity to test their strengths against professional clubs and the opportunity to get spotted by the ‘big guns’ and a chance to make a career in the professional league among other benefits. The Tonota FC fixture against First Division North campaigners and former Premier League contestants, Motlakase Power Dynamos, at the Tonota Primary School grounds over the weekend was no exception. The match, which was attended by amongst others Botswana Football Association (BFA) president Tariq Babitseng, ended 1-0 in favour of Motlakase, courtesy of a Kgololo Kgogobi's goal in the second half. Babitseng said the was impressed by the number of people who attended the game although most Tonota residents said the crowd was nothing as compared to the number of fans who usually attend the Tonota derby between Tonota FC and Bluebirds. Kgogobi beat the Tonota goalkeeper with a header who mistimed his run from the goal posts. It was a game that the teams wanted to win through hook and crook and it was no surprise that a Motlakase player was given a yellow card after he threw something that looked like salt on the pitch after Kgogobi scored.
The game was also marred by controversy as a Tonota supporter blew his whistle whenever Motlakase was in attack, which prompted the referee to briefly stop the game. The security officials later confiscated the whistle from the fan much to the relief of Motlakase and supporters from the two teams. The game also benefited different stakeholders along the football value chain. Asked about how far he wants his team to progress in the tournament, the head coach of Motlakase, Djento Sephatla, said: “We want to win against any team that we will face in this tournament then take it from there.” His Tonota counterpart, Themba Lunga, a former deadly striker for BDF XI said: “The goalkeeper came to catch the ball but they looped him. We wanted to win this game because the further you progress in the tournament, the more money you make. We missed a golden opportunity to make more money after we conceded a simple goal.”
The teams:
Motlakase: Badisa Mpote, Kagiso Tsere, Eric Gaobatlelwe, Barulaganye Tapiso, Gosegonna Molapisi, Onkemetse Oitsile, Phodiso Motsaakgang, Kgololo Kgogobi, Odumetse Tsere, Obakwe Shango, Moagi Mahube Tonota FC: Dimpho Kgosietsile, Onalenna Setigo, Sepego, Kago Maramane, Kutlo Morapetsane, Mpho Kefitilwe, Faith Keletso, Lopi Marape, Lucky Facebook Seema, Thabang Moseki, Dikakanyo Rabalone
