DIAMOND GIANTS IN CAF BATTLES

Diamond mining soccer giants, Jwaneng Galaxy and Orapa United, are expected to sparkle this weekend when they lock horns against Simba SC and Coton Sport in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederations Cup respectively on home soil.

Jwaneng Galaxy enjoyed a good run of form against a Central African Republic (CAR) outfit, Diplomat FC, defeating them 2-nil at home before losing 1-nil in the return leg but progressed to the next stage with a 2-1 aggregate to face off a rather resilient Simba SC side from Tanzania.

Orapa United on the another hand shared the spoils in two goalless draws against Gabon’s AS Mangasport, but ended up winning 3-2 on penalties to advance to the next stage which pitted them against Coton Sport from Cameroon.

In a brief interview with Voice Sport this week, Orapa United Head Coach, Mogomotsi Mpote, said preparations are going well and that they are looking much better than their previous CAF games against AS Mangasport where they failed to find the back on the two-legged fixture.

“I believe the way we prepared is much better than our previous match even though we have a few injury concerns which are Thato Seagateng and Allen Ndodole, who were crucial to our approach for this upcoming encounter and having played well in the previous match.

However, we will have to soldier on and force a result at home,” he said.

Furthermore, the Orapa United gaffer said they have a few friendly matches lined up to gauge their performance in front of goal.

“Our preparations for Mangasport came at a difficult time when there was no action hence we could not play any friendly match and that worked against us. But now we have played a few friendly matches, which give me confidence that we can get something out of this encounter,” Mpote said.

Jwaneng Galaxy Head Coach, Morena Ramoreboli, says their preparations have gone well as they played some friendly matches and have studied their opponents’ style of play.

PREPARATIONS

“The preparations have gone well thus far. We watched videos of Simba SC so that we learn how they approach these kinds of matches. We know they may change their style a bit but we will be ready to give ourselves an early advantage at home,” he said.

Ramoreboli further said they have a couple of injuries and a few other players who are just returning from knocks.

“The likes of Gift Moyo and Themba Dladla are nursing injuries but we expect the rest of the crew to give a 100% so that we emerge victorious. Furthermore, Simba SC had an impressive CAF Champions League campaign but we have to rise and defy the odds,” concluded Ramoreboli.