BLOEMFONTEIN – By reaching the Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals, the Marumo Gallants have boosted their chances of winning their first major title as well as their new head coach Alexandre Lafitte’s prospects of securing his first major trophy. The club secured a slot after a convincing 4-0 win against former champions Stellenbosch FC in a rain-drenched quarter-final outing played last Wednesday 29 October in Bloemfontein.
As confirmed by the Premier Soccer League (PSL), the Gallants will face Lamontville Golden Arrows FC on Sunday, 9 November, while Orlando Pirates will clash with another KwaZulu-Natal side, Richards Bay, in the other semi-final on Saturday 8 November. The fixture featuring the Bloemfontein based and Durban based Arrows is set to take place at the King Zwelithini Stadium while the other match will be at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The PSL conducted the draw at the Dr R.P. Molemela Stadium, immediately after the match between the Gallants and Stellenbosch ended. The two winners in the semi-finals will then battle it out for the crown. New champions will be crowned given the elimination of former champions Magesi FC, who won the title last year, after beating Sundowns, 2-1 in a final played in Bloemfontein.
The Bahlabane ba Ntwa capitalised fully on the heavy downpour to score an avalanche of goals against Stellenbosch. This is the club’s second successive semi-final, building on last season’s impressive run under former coach Dan Malesela. The Gallants had their run ended by Mamelodi Sundowns, who won 2-0 in the semi-final.
Progressing to the semi-final brings Lafitte a step closer to achieving the target set by the club’s president Dr Abram Sello as part of the two-year deal signed at the start of this season. The club owner set the Frenchman the target of winning at least one major title on offer in South Africa’s top-flight rank and securing a top eight berth in the PSL. From Lafitte’s point of view, it is realistic to deliver on the mandate, drawing inspiration from a knack for remarkable achievements. He guided Ivory Coast team Stade Abidjan to win the Ivorian Ligue 1 in 2023 and it was the club’s first league title in 56 years.
The Gallants coach Lafitte was pleased with the club’s first big win and securing a berth in the semi-finals just four months into his tenure. “I’m very happy to qualify for the semi-finals, and I’m also happy because we did not concede a goal in this match; and scoring four goals, I’m extremely happy” said Lafitte. En route to the semi-finals, his team defeated giants Mamelodi Sundowns by 7 – 6 in round 16 of the competition.
Lafitte and his warriors face a litmus test against Arrows in the semi-final outing. He indicated he was expecting a tough clash in the cup competition. In this upcoming encounter of the lucrative tournament, the Gallants will be looking to avenge their 0-4 loss to Arrows in a PSL fixture played on Sunday 2 November.
The Frenchman hopes he will emulate the devastating form which was memorable for scoring four goals in the demolition of Stellenbosch. The Gallants pint-sized midfielder-cum-striker Phillip Ndlondlo was influential, scoring a brace. He was duly rewarded with R10 000 in prize money as the man of the match. The other two goals came from unlikely scorers, Monde Mpambaniso and Edgar Manaka. They came on as substitutes in the second stanza of the semi-final match. The four semifinalists are guaranteed R1.35 million for their effort. Runners-up will pocket R2.85 million while the champions will take home R6.85 million.
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