Baroka Football Club wrote their name in the history books of South African football when they beat the mighty Orlando Pirates 3-2 to lift their maiden Telkom Knockout Cup in the final match of the competition at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Ga-Mphahlele based outfit were touted as the favourites to win the competition after eliminating champions Bidvest Wits and champions of the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Mamelodi Sundowns on their way to the finals.
They became the first professional soccer outfit from the province to win a major title in the PSL.
Congratulating Baroka, MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Thandi Moraka said Baroka have once more proved to the doubting Thomases that they can slay the so-called Goliath of Football, Orlando Pirates. “He who hasn’t awoken to the fact that Bakgaga are the Davids of football is still going to have palpitations. Pirates couldn’t withstand that the slingshot that we had perfected against so-called giants had hit them hard on their forehead. I particularly would like to thank our supporters and players who have proven to be hungrier than our opponents. A win for Baroka is a befitting present for the people of Limpopo in this Festive Season,” Moraka said.
Premier Stan Mathabatha was quoted to have said: “We have never doubted that Baroka would lift the cup. This Cup being the first for a Limpopo soccer team this season means a million words and a million celebrations. On behalf of the people of Limpopo we will give a hero’s welcome to the boys. They have given us an early Christmas gift.”
Provincial Secretary of ANC Soviet Lekganyane was quoted to have said Baroka demonstrated its relentlessness against all odds in the finals of the 2018 Telkom Cup, against Orlando Pirates on Saturday. “The ANC in Limpopo congratulates the management, technical staff, players and supporters of Baroka Football Club.”
Chief Executive Officer of Baroka Football Club, Morgan Mammilla said they are happy to finally win a Cup in the PSL. “It is mission completed for us. We wanted this Cup and we are happy we finally got it. Credit should go to all the players and the technical team for their effort,” Mammilla said.
He said when they are done with celebrations their focus will be on amending their position on the league. “We are currently in the 14th position of the league and it is not a good position at all. Our goal is to finish the league in the top-8 brackets and for us to achieve that we need to start winning matches,” added Mammilla.
Story: Herbert Rachuene
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