The stage has been set for the 16 northern block teams to lock horns in the electrifying Orange FA Cup Season 6 last 48 which kicks this weekend, starting tomorrow February 15th, 2025.
The season promises thrilling action as it features a diverse mix of giants from the first and lower division leagues. Different teams have expressed their readiness for the encounters.
In an interview, Sankoyo Bush Bucks Coach Letsogile Mothowaeng said that preparations for the cup have started and they are ready to play their first game against Calendar Stars this Sunday at Maun Sports Complex. He noted that they will put more effort to ensure that they reach the last stages of the Orange FA Cup.
“Going into the Cup, we have to change our game approach by applying different styles of play, we intend to boost our players’ physical fitness, stamina, mental fitness and to change our formation,” he said.
Calendar Stars Head Coach Joseph Mokgacha has also expressed his readiness for the cup, indicating that their plan is to work hard to ensure that they defeat Sankoyo Bush Bucks tomorrow and pass to the next stage.
“Sankoyo Bush Bucks is on the good run at the First Division league and is doing well in terms of scoring goals, that means there is something good which they are doing, so we also have to ensure that we put more effort on how we handle and manage them tomorrow since they will be home,” he said.
Kazungula Young Fighters assistant coach Monageng Nkofi has told Times Sport that preparations for the cup will resume this week and they will be focusing more on building the tactical skills of their players. He said that they will also come up with different game approach plans.
Nkofi stated that they will work towards correcting some of the mistakes they encountered in the previous season of the cup such as failure to hold or protect the ball. This, he said gave an advantage to their opponents in their second game against Township Rollers in the previous season which they lost 2-nil.
Nkofi has expressed that the Orange FA Cup was very important, and they intend to make their mark so that their players can gain exposure. Kazungula Young Fighters is set to face Real Brothers from Boteti region tomorrow (15th Feb) at Prisons Ground in Kasane.
Real Brothers FC Coach Johannes Masebo has also expressed that they are more than ready to face their opponents and their preparations for the cup started at the beginning of this week. He said that their players are ready and fit to play except for the one who suffered an injury.
“Our intention is to secure a victory against Kazungula Young Fighters so that we can host home games and pull up more crowd,” he said.
Meanwhile, the round of the last 48 is composed of the top eight teams of the national first division South and North and the regional champions per BFA block. The premier league teams will enter in the round of the last 32. The first games of the Orange FA Cup Season 6 Last 48 commenced last weekend for the Southern Block teams.
The northern block participating teams are Kazungula Young Fighters, Real Brothers FC, Gumare Young Stars, MR Highlanders FC, Mmadinare Giant Aces FC, Santa Green FC, FC Palapye, Mbalakalungu FC, Tonota FC, Motlakase Power Dynamos FC, Tshikinyega Tigers FC, Tsabotlhe FC, Miscellaneous FC, Chadibe FC, Sankoyo Bush Bucks and Calendar Stars.
