Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders FC midfielder Nqobizitha Masuku who now plies his trade at Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana is relishing the prospect of facing South African Giants Orlando Pirates in the second round of the CAF Champions League.
Jwaneng Galaxy overcame Ugandan Viper SC 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the second round of the Caf Champions League. This is the team’s second appearance in the competition.
Galaxy squared off with Vipers from Uganda in the preliminary round of the competition.
While Vipers entered the second leg trailing 0-2, they rallied from behind at home to at some stage only to fall to a dramatic twist when visiting Galaxy scored in the 89th minute to steal it 3-2 on aggregate in Kampala, Uganda.
Despite suffering a 2-1 setback, Galaxy advanced to the subsequent round, to face their Southern African neighbours.
The last time these two sides met was in 2021 during the preliminary stages of the Caf Confederation Cup. The Buccaneers won both legs (3-0 away and 1-0 home) to pave their way into the next round.
For Masuku, this is the first time he represents a foreign team in a competition he has previously played in representing FC Platinum.
“It’s been an awesome experience. I have played in the competition before and have an idea of the demands of the prestigious competition. As a team we have started well and we are looking forward to probably making it to the group stages.
“We have an interesting fixture up next but we have a strong squad that is capable of progressing to the group stages of this competition,” said Masuku.
“Going through this journey with Galaxy is quite exciting. Everyone in the team is fighting for the team to make history. I played in the two games of the first round and the team has so much potential,” said Masuku.
Orlando Pirates qualified for the CAF Champions League preliminary round courtesy of their second-place finish in the Premier Soccer League last season to then be paired with Djabal in the first round.
A 4-0 aggregate win over the Comorans ensured the Bucs’ place in the second round of this competition.
On the other hand, Jwaneng Galaxy second appearance in this competition was made possible by their winning the Botswana Premier League title to be drawn with Vipers SC in the first round. Galaxy were founded in 2015 after two local clubs merged, Jwaneng Comets and the Debswana Youngsters.
Galaxy were promoted to the Botswana Premier League for the first time in 2015, after winning the First Division South with a match to spare.
Led by Zambian coach Mike Sithole, Galaxy won the club’s first silverware in 2016–17, the Mascom Top 8 Cup, beating Orapa United in extra-time in the final.
They also finished second in the Botswana Premier League and qualified for the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup.
Sithole was fired in November 2017, but Galaxy ended the 2017–18 campaign in second again, only four points off of champions Township Rollers FC.
Miguel da Costa became the head coach for the 2018–19 campaign after leaving Uganda’s Vipers.
Under Morena Ramoreboli, Galaxy qualified for the group stages of the African Champions once.
-@innocentskizoe
Online Reporter