MATSHELANE MAMABOLO
JWANENG Galaxy are looking to defy the popular saying that lightning does not strike in the same place twice by sending Orlando Prates tumbling out of the CAF Champions League at the second preliminary stage like they did last year.
The two teams confirmed their meetings with victories over African Stars of Namibia and Madagascar’s Disciples at the weekend and will now meet over two legs next month to decide who makes it to the money-spinning group stage of the continent’s premier club knockout competition.
Shock victors over the Buccaneers via a penalty shoot-out last time around, the club from Botswana said they are ready to repeat the dose. And their coach Morena Ramoreboli, a South African, accepts they have a mammoth task ahead of them.
“Eish, Orlando Pirates again,” Ramoreboli said in the media conference after the penalty shoot-out win over Stars.
“Another tough encounter. I know they were here to watch us as well.
“There’s nothing much to say about Pirates but that they are a big team and we will give the same respect that we gave them in the last encounter. We know that it will still be another difficult match.”
He said, however, that they will not be lacking motivation, not with a world beater in their midst to serve as inspiration.
“I think all of us gathering here, there’s one man when we always talk about him we remember to be resilient. Letsile Tebogo made us believe that a black child – with belief – can achieve anything.
“He went to the (Pars 2024) Olympics and became the first African athlete to win a gold medal (in the 200m). I am very proud of him and I believe he is an inspiration to all the Batswana athletes and for me whatever that we do, we need to leave a mark.
“We need to make history. And stories and a journey like the one of Tebogo gives us hope that we need to believe in ourselves.
“We will do the same thing that we did in the previous edition, believe in ourselves, go and do our best. We have a very good team and very committed individuals.
“They know how to fight and represent the badge. So, we will go out and do our best (against Pirates) once again.”
Galaxy will host the first leg of the tie on September 13.