FA Challenge Cup (Botswana)

The FA Challenge Cup, currently known as the Orange FA Cup or Orange Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the premier club football tournament in Botswana. Started in 1968 and first played as the Lions Cup, the tournament is based on the idea of giving lower league and amateur teams a chance to compete with top flight teams. It is based on the English FA Cup, which has become known for "giant killings" (lower league teams defeating top flight teams).

FA Challenge Cup
Founded1968
Number of teams48
Current championsOrapa United (2018-19) (1st title)
Most successful club(s)Gaborone United, Township Rollers (6 titles)
2019-20 Botswana FA Cup

History

The tournament was started in 1968 as the Lions Cup. This name stayed in place until 1992 when the tournament was sponsored by Coca-Cola and was known as the Coca-Cola Cup. The tournament was known as the Coca-Cola Cup until the sponsorship deal expired in 2012. However, it was not played for six years due to lack of sponsors. In 2018 it was sponsored by Orange and was renamed the Orange FA Cup or Orange Cup.

Sponsorship

The tournament was first sponsored in 1992. Below is a list of all the sponsors to date:

  • 1992-12: Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola Cup)
  • 2013-18: No sponsor
  • 2019: Orange (Orange FA Cup)

Format

Initially the tournament was played by a total of 64 teams. The tournament began with the qualifying rounds featuring Botswana Division One teams. Only 32 Division One teams progressed and faced off in the extra preliminary round, with the winners playing against the top 16 Botswana First Division teams in the preliminary round. Botswana Premier League teams entered directly in the first round (the round of 32) to face the winners of the preliminary round. On 3 December 2018 it was announced that the tournament would now be played by 48 teams. The premier league sides automatically qualify for the round of 32 whereas the top eight finishers from either First Division league face off with 16 Division One teams from regional playoffs. From the round of 32 onwards teams are not seeded. Games which end in a draw after 90 minutes plus added time are subject to extra time and penalties if necessary. The winner walks away with P700 000 ($70 000) and also qualifies to play in the CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

Past finals

Results by team
Titles Club
6 Township Rollers
Gaborone United
4 Notwane
3 Botswana Defence Force XI
Mogoditshane Fighters
Extension Gunners
2 TASC
Mochudi Centre Chiefs
1 Uniao Flamengo Santos
TAFIC
Police FC
Botswana Meat Commission FC
Orapa United

Manager records
Season Winner Manager
2004-05Township Rollers Joseph Panene
2009-10Township Rollers Rahman Gumbo
2010-11Extension Gunners Maxwell Moyo
2011-12Gaborone United Philemon Makhwengwe
2018-19Orapa United Mogomotsi Mpote

References
  1. FA Cup to return next season
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