Maluti FET is proof of FS football upsurge

The victory against Orlando Pirates is further proof that Free State teams are rising to football prominence in the country

The Charles Mopeli Stadium was probably the most electric Nedbank Cup venue this past weekend as the Maluti FET College students caused a major upset by shattering the hearts of the over-confident treble winners, Orlando Pirates.

Maluti have now secured a spot in the last 16 of the tournament; an achievement that many, including myself, had dispelled as impossible for the unknown boys from QwaQwa.

The victory was a wondrous moment for the entire Free State province and added to the proof that football in the province is definitely on the rising curve, and this serves as a positive for local development in our region.

The pool from which Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic can identify talent has just gotten larger or perhaps we will see the minnows get promoted to the higher leagues at the end of the season, much like Roses United. Either way, Free State teams are no longer simple pushovers.

Pirates brought their enormous football stature to the Free State to come make their advancement into the round of the last 16 just another formality. Better yet, I assume the PSL champions where already quizzing themselves about which team they will prospectively meet in the final of the tournament, much like most their widespread fans had already anticipated.

In all truth, the rest of us football loyalist had also expected them to advance to the next round; and we would have still been proud of Maluti for just pitching up for the scheduled fixture against the PSL champions. The turn of events was largely unanticipated and the score margin left many in awe.

The Free State currently boasts four teams in the Nedbank tournament and they have all advanced to the next round where they will compete for a spot in the quarterfinals. This is a first for the province in the history of the 43-year-old cup tournament and it is a moment that needs embracement.

Celtic and Stars have also become the PSL’s top eight regulars and firm major cup title contenders.
Had Celtic and Stars not met each other in the semi-finals of the 2012 Telkom Knockout competition, the possibilities of both teams meeting in the final were possible. The time for the latter to transpire is yet to come.

Maluti’s feat should, however, not deceive them into believing that they can lay any other PSL team down to the gauntlet in the current Nedbank Cup campaign. The coach and the players of Maluti must understand that the team is still rather small and should therefore not become too over-confident.

Celtic, Stars, Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns are still lurking and stand a better chance of advancing should one of them lock horns with the QwaQwa outfit.

Furthermore, Maluti’s style of play was relatively unknown prior to the match against the Buccaneers, but now their capabilities have been exposed and none of these PSL teams will allow the QwaQwa side to humiliate them like they did with Pirates. This is just a reality check.

The minnows must heed my advice if they are to avoid humiliation. Defeating Pirates, Chiefs and Sundowns is a huge achievement for any small team but repeating the feat is a minute possibility.

However, the cup victory against Pirates is certainly a huge confidence booster for the QwaQwa outfit, which will most likely go on to pave their way to many more great triumphs in the future.