2019 Botswana FA Cup explained

FA Challenge Cup (Botswana)
Year:2019
Country:Botswana
Dates:16 February – 15 June 2019
Defending Champions:Gaborone United
Champions:Orapa United (1st title)
Runner-Up:Township Rollers
Matches:47
Goals:126
Top Goal Scorer:Omaatla Kebatho (7 goals)
Player:Mothusi Johnson
Prevseason:2012
Nextseason:2020

The 2019 FA Challenge Cup was the 46th edition of the FA Challenge Cup, Botswana's premier football knockout tournament. It was sponsored by Orange and was known as the Orange FA Cup or Orange FA Cup Season 1 for sponsorship reasons. It started with the preliminary round on the weekend of 16 February and concluded with the final on 15 June 2019.

Botswana Premier League side Gaborone United were the defending champions but were eliminated by Extension Gunners on penalties in the round of 32. Orapa United went on to win the title for the first time in history, making them the first Orapa side to do so.

Qualifying rounds

All 16 Premier League teams automatically qualified to the round of 32. The top 8 teams from First Division South and top 8 from First Division North had to go through the preliminary round and were joined by the 16 regional champions.[1] Winners of this round qualified for the round of 32.

Preliminary round

The preliminary round draw took place on 23 January 2019. The draw was seeded into two, namely the northern and southern blocks. Southern block games were played on 16 and 17 February while northern block games were played on 23 and 24 February.

Southern block

DateHomeScoreAwayGround
16 FebruaryJwaneng Fighters0-0(3-1 pen.)DigodiMankgodi Show Grounds
16 FebruaryHoly Ghost0-1Tlokweng Red SparksTlokweng VDC Grounds
16 FebruaryBlue Stars1-5NotwaneTshane Prisons Grounds
16 FebruaryBlack Peril5-1Mogoditshane FightersTlokweng VDC Grounds
16 FebruarySand Diamonds0-0(4-3 pen.)Motaung Young FightersTshane Prisons Grounds
17 FebruaryBroadhurst United0-1Atlanta ChiefsMochudi Rovers Grounds
17 FebruaryMochudi Rovers0-0(10-11 pen.)Prisons XIMochudi Rovers Grounds
17 FebruaryBlack Rangers3-1King RodgersTsabong VDC Grounds
[2] Northern block
DateHomeScoreAwayGround
23 FebruaryGreat North Tigers4-3Eleven AngelsFrancistown City Council Stadium
23 FebruaryMotlakase Power Dynamos1-1(7-8)PeacemakersBobonong Show Grounds
23 FebruaryCalendar Stars1-1(4-3)Maun TerrorsFrancistown City Council Stadium
23 FebruaryKazungula Young Fighters0-0(7-6)White DiamondsKasane Prisons Grounds
23 FebruaryPalapye All Stars2-2(1-3)Sua FlamingosPhikwe United Grounds
23 FebruarySanta Green3-2Morupule WanderersPhikwe United Grounds
24 FebruaryBR Highlanders4-0Green LoversSerowe Sports Council Stadium
24 FebruaryNico United3-1TsabotlheSerowe Sports Council Stadium

Round of 32

The round of 32 draw was conducted on 24 February 2019 after the conclusion of the preliminary round. It was not seeded. Jwaneng Fighters, Atlanta Chiefs, Black Rangers, Black Peril, Sand Diamonds, Peacemakers, Kazungula Young Fighters and Santa Green from Division One are the lowest ranked teams still in the competition.

DateHomeScoreAwayGround
29 MarchGaborone United2-2(7-8)Extension Gunners
29 MarchSanta Green0-3Township RollersSerowe Sports Complex
30 MarchNotwane2-1Tlokweng Red Sparks
30 MarchGreat North Tigers0-1Miscellaneous
30 MarchSand Diamonds0-0(4-2)Black Peril
30 MarchNico United1-2BDF XI
30 MarchBR Highlanders0-0(10-9)Uniao Flamengo Santos
30 MarchPolice XI1-0Sharps Shooting Stars
30 MarchCalendar Stars1-2Kazungula Young Fighters
30 MarchBlack Forest0-0(9-10)Security Systems
30 MarchSua Flamingos1-2Sankoyo Bush Bucks
30 MarchPeacemakers0-10Orapa United
31 MarchAtlanta Chiefs2-4Jwaneng Fighters
31 MarchPrisons XI1-2TAFIC
31 MarchMochudi Centre Chiefs2-1Gilport Lions
31 MarchJwaneng Galaxy1-1(5-4)Black Rangers
[3]

Round of 16

The round of 16 draw was conducted on 4 April 2019. It was not seeded. Jwaneng Fighters, Sand Diamonds and Kazungula Young Fighters from Division One are the lowest ranked teams still in the competition.

DateHomeScoreAwayGround
13 AprilExtension Gunners0-1Township RollersLobatse Sports Complex
13 AprilSankoyo Bush Bucks0-1Jwaneng Galaxy
13 AprilNotwane1-3BDF XI
13 AprilBR Highlanders1-2Security Systems
13 AprilKazungula Young Fighters2-1TAFIC
13 AprilSand Diamonds0-4Orapa United
14 AprilJwaneng Fighters1-1(3-1)Mochudi Centre Chiefs
14 AprilPolice XI4-2Miscellaneous

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinal draw was conducted on 14 April after the conclusion of the round of 16. It was not seeded. Jwaneng Fighters and Kazungula Young Fighters from Division One are the lowest ranked teams still in the competition.

DateHomeScoreAwayGround
27 AprilKazungula Young Fighters0-1Township RollersChobe JSS Ground
27 AprilOrapa United2-1Security Systems
28 AprilJwaneng Fighters0-0(4-5)Police XI
28 AprilBDF XI0-0(5-4)Jwaneng Galaxy

Semifinals

The semifinal draw was conducted on 28 April after the Jwaneng Fighters and Police XI game.

DateHomeScoreAwayGround
18 May 2019Police XI1-4Orapa UnitedBotswana National Stadium
18 May 2019BDF XI0-2Township RollersBotswana National Stadium
[4]

Awards

[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FA Cup launched . 3 December 2018 . Botswana FA . 25 February 2019 . 3 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190403132035/http://www.bfa.co.bw/852/fa-cup-launched/ . live .
  2. News: Orange FA Cup Off To Blazing Start . The Monitor . 18 February 2019 . 10 February 2022 . 5 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190905111337/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=79643&dir=2019%2Ffebruary%2F18 . live .
  3. News: GU, Gunners Class Headlines Orange FA Cup Fixtures . The Botswana Gazette . 28 March 2019 . 1 October 2019 . 1 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191001135300/https://www.thegazette.news/sport/gu-gunners-clash-headlines-orange-fa-cup-fixtures/26263/ . live .
  4. Web site: Foursome FA Cup battle ensues . 17 May 2019 . Mmegi Online . 10 February 2022 . 5 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190905114837/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=80937&dir=2019%2Fmay%2F17 . live .
  5. https://dailynews.gov.bw/news-detail/49780
  6. http://www.mmegi.bw/index.phpaid=83338&dir=2019/november/04