Kaizer Chiefs loanee Xolani Cossa is relishing the prospect of facing former teammate Sima Bobo in the Botswana Orange FA Cup quarter-finals.
Cossa, currently gaining first-team minutes at Black Lions FC, believes his side has earned the right to challenge Mochudi Centre Chiefs after their gritty progression to the last eight.
Lions needed nerves of steel to reach this stage, edging Morupule Wanderers 7-6 on penalties after a goalless draw in the Round of 16, with Cossa playing a key role this past Sunday. Meanwhile, on Friday, Centre Chiefs cruised into the quarter-finals with a dominant 4-0 win over Enesia FC, although Bobo remained an unused substitute. The quarter-finals are set for later this month, with the Botswana league ending at the end of May.
WHAT XOLANI COSSA SAID ABOUT THE QUARTER-FINAL
“I’m happy for the team that we have secured a spot in the quarter-finals, and I’m very happy with how the gents performed in that game,” Cossa told FARPost. The 22-year-old defender admits the fixture carries added significance, with a reunion against Bobo on the cards.
“We are pleased to face Mochudi Centre Chiefs, and fortunately, I’ll be playing against my former teammate Sima Bobo,” he said.
The former Amakhosi DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] captain struck a confident tone, insisting Black Lions are ready to turn familiarity into an advantage.
“But I’m happy to face them because I think now, we deserve a chance to win against them. Given our structure and team approach, I think we’ll beat them and advance to the next stage,” he added.
Cossa has previously described his season-long loan in Botswana as a crucial step in his development, insisting he “made the best move” to gain consistent game time in a physically demanding, competitive league.
He has also spoken positively about settling into life at Black Lions, highlighting how the move has sharpened his overall game and prepared him for greater responsibility.
With a place in the Orange FA Cup quarter-final secured, Cossa’s focus now also shifts back to league survival, with Black Lions fighting to preserve their top-flight status just a season after acquiring the status of VTM FC.
They currently sit 14th on the table with five wins, six draws and 15 defeats, but have a lifeline in upcoming fixtures against fellow strugglers Calendar Stars, Santa Green, Sea Flamingoes and Police XI, games that could ultimately define their season.
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