South African clubs' record against Botswana opposition

Orlando Pirates will be out for revenge this weekend as they take on Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana for a place in the lucrative group phase of the African Champions League, after last season’s embarrassing defeat.

Pirates are away in Gaborone on Saturday for the first leg of their second round tie and then at home next weekend, looking to make up for the embarrassment of being knocked out at the same stage by Galaxy last season.

That was the second time Pirates had suffered an upset elimination by a club from Botswana after the 2010 set back against Gaborone United

South African clubs have been playing against teams from Botswana from the country’s first year of participation in African club competition 32 years ago.

Kaizer Chiefs made the short trip over the border in 1993 for their first game in the old-style African Champions Cup in 1993, winning against Lobatse Gunners.

In a total of 22 past meetings between clubs from the two countries, South African sides have won 18 with two draws and a solitary defeat when Gwaneng beat Pirates last year.

The two draws came when Pirates drew away at Gaborone United and then were 2-0 up at home in the return leg but gave up two late goals to be embarrassingly eliminated on the away goals rule.

The history of Botswana versus South Africa clashes in African club competition:

1993:

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS CUP FIRST ROUND 

Kaizer Chiefs beat Lobatse Gunners 6-0 on aggregate

Chiefs enjoyed massive support at the National Stadium in Gaborone when they played the away leg but found it a far from easy assignment.

But in the end, their quality did prevail, and Eric September’s 21st minute goal ensured the win.

The return leg at the Rand Stadium was more of a doddle and Chiefs were 3-0 up at halftime before running out 5-0 winners with strikes from Zambian import Albert Bwalya, two from the Swazi international Ronnie Dube, one from Trevor Mtimkhulu and a rare goal as well from Neil Tovey

1996:

CONFEDERATIONS OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL FIRST ROUND

Mamelodi Sundowns beat Botswana Meat Commission 7-1 on aggregate

Sundowns went away in the first leg and with Johnny Ferreira taking charge of the side won 3-0 with goals from Daniel Mudau, Kenny Niemach and substitute Russell Molefe.

Bennett Masinga got two, Zane Moosa and Kenny Niemach the four goals in the return match two weeks later for an easy aggregate triumph.

AFRICAN CUP WINNERS' CUP SECOND ROUND

Pretoria City beat Notwane 5-1 on aggregate

About to change their name to SuperSport United, the club from Eersterus had already scored eight goals to beat St Louisienne of Reunion in the previous round.

Notwane proved stubborn in the first leg but Ronald Lawrence and Nicky Shaw scored within a minute of each other for a 2-1 win.

In the return leg, player coach Shane MacGregor led the way with a 10th minute goal, followed by more from Lawrence and Thomas Madigage.

1999

AFRICAN CUP WINNERS' CUP FIRST ROUND

Orlando Pirates beat Botswana Defence Force XI 9-1 on aggregate

This tie was settled quickly with Pirates three goals up at halftime of the first leg at home and going onto double the score after the break.

Six different players got on the scoresheet too.

In Gaborone in the return, another avalanche was threatened when Sibusiso Zuma and Andries Sebola scored in the first 20 minutes but Sebola added only one more after the break. 

Pirates would go onto reach the semifinal where they lost on post-match penalties to Africa Sports of the Ivory Coast.

2010:

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST ROUND

Gaborone United beat Orlando Pirates on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw

Pirates drew 0-0 away in Gaborone which was a far from satisfactory outcome for coach Ruud Krol and his side but nevertheless looked to set them up for progress with home advantage in the return game at home, which they moved to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Or so they thought!

Pirates were coasting at 2-0 until Katlego Mashego headed home an own goal from a Vincent Phiri corner in the 86th minute and two minutes later substitute Stephen Maposa headed home the equaliser to see Gaborone to a famous victory.

2014:

AFRICAN CONFEDERATIONS CUP FIRST ROUND

SuperSport United beat Gaborone United 3-0 on aggregate

The tall Senegalese striker Mame Niang scored all the goals over the two legs as SuperSport dispatched of the threat of Gaborone United.

He got two in Atteridgeville in the first leg but squandered a penalty which would have given him a hat-trick and his club a bigger lead to take to the Botswana capital.

But it mattered little as Cavin Johnson’s side came through the return leg without any hassle.

2015:

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST ROUND

Kaizer Chiefs beat Township Rollers 3-1 on aggregate

Chiefs made a fist of the first leg at Soccer City and only carved out a face-saving 2-1 victory when Tefu Mashamaite scored in stoppage time at the end of the game.

But a fortnight later they went to Gaborone and came away with a 1-0 win over the home side who had former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Manqoba Ngwenya in their ranks and ex-Zimbabwe international Madinda Ndlovu as their coach.

Siyabonga Nkosi scored the only goal of the game just before the half hour mark as Chiefs dominated possession but struggled to break down a well-organised Rollers defence.

2020-21

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND ROUND

Mamelodi Sundowns beat Jwaneng Galaxy 5-1 on aggregate

Sundowns were away first, on a Tuesday afternoon, at the Lobatse Sports Complex and won 2-0 with new signing Mothobi Mavala grabbing the first and Peter Shalulile, also freshly arrived from Highlands Park, netting the second.

In the return leg at Loftus Versfeld, Kermit Erasmus opened the scoring before Mvala and Thapelo Morena extended Masandawana's lead, while Tebogo Sembowa grabbed Botswana champions Galaxy's late consolation.

This was a successful first venture in continental competition for the new coaching team of Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi.

AFRICAN CONFEDERATIONS CUP THIRD ROUND

Orlando Pirates beat Jwaneng Galaxy 4-0 on aggregate

Galaxy dropped down from the Champions League and into the Confederation Cup after losing to Sundowns and were drawn against South African opposition again in the playoff for a place in the group phase of the Confederation Cup.

Pirates had no mercy for them either, winning 3-0 away in the first leg and 1-0 at home in the return.

Thulani Hlatshwayo, Linda Mntambo and the Congolese Jean-Marc Makusu, who did not stay long, scored in Gaborone and Mntambo in the return.

2023-24

AFRICAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND ROUND

Jwaneng Galaxy beat Orlando Pirates 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw

Galaxy became first Botswana club to beat a South African side in 90 minutes in African club competition as their promising Zimbabwe import Daniel Msendami netted in the first half at the National Stadium in Gaborone.

Pirates coach Jose Riveiro underestimated the strength of Galaxy and fielded reserves for the first leg.

The pressure was on for the return leg, and it took more than an hour before Pirates levelled the aggregate score but they did not get any more goals and then lost in the post-match shootout as Relebogile Mofokeng missed his effort.

AFRICAN CONFEDERATIONS CUP SECOND ROUND

SuperSport United beat Gaborone United 4-1 on aggregate

Gavin Hunt put a youthful side out against Gaborone United and saw them take the lead away in the first leg through Keenan Bezuidenhout, only to give up a stoppage-time equaliser to Gaborone United’s Liberian import Sheikh Sesay.

The return was played in Polokwane with two goals for Etiosa Ighodaro and one for veteran goal poacher Bradley Grobler, SuperSport went safely through to the group phase.