On Saturday (16 February 2019), Botswana football witnessed the return of FA Cup after a six-year absence due to inadequate sponsorship.
The knockout competition returns thanks to sponsorship from Orange Botswana. The telecom outfit is injecting over $1.2million as sponsorship for three seasons and a further $1.5million for marketing.
The game that kick-started the action was between first division sides Black Peril and Mogoditshane Fighters, which Peril won 5-1 to progress to the Round of 32.
Moses Moruti of Peril didn't waste time as he scored the first goal nine minutes into the game. He made it easy as he went for placement across goal to the far corner on the right of the post from close range.
Fighters levelled matters on the 27th minute through Othusegile Botsetswe following beautiful interchange of passes. On the 41st minute, Moemedi Sendu delivered a telling cross that went over the defence and landed on the path of Moshe Tlhaolang who tapped home.
Tlhaolang didn't have enough as he beat the goalkeeper with a header from close range four minutes later. Eight minutes after half time break, the 26-year old didn't waste time as he concluded a hat-trick with a beauty. A cross was delivered across goal and he jumped higher than everyone from an acute angle and his tap-in hit the net by the top corner. He was later named man of the match.
Things went from bad to worse for Fighters with two minutes before regulation time when the Fighters goalkeeper Botlhe Moralo misjudged the bounce of the ball from a Kabo Motsamai pass and it went past him to seal the victory.
General Secretary of Botswana Football Association Mfolo Mfolo said: “I think we have sold a good property, the last time the cup was played was in 2012 and what I have seen here this afternoon is amazing. The crowd was so vibrant, families came here to enjoy. Football has now been taken to the people”.
First Round Results Black Peril 5-1 Mogoditshane Fighters Holy Ghost 0-1 Red Sparks Jwaneng Fighters 0-0 (3-1pen) Digodi Blue Stars 1-5 Notwane Sand Diamonds 0-0(4-3 Pen) Motaung Young Fighters Broadhurst United 0-1 Atlanta Chiefs Mochudi Rovers 0-0 (10-11 Pen) Prisons XI Black Rangers 3-1 King Rogers