Local stars enjoy fruitful season abroad

Tumisang ‘Teenage’ Orebonye is within sight of making history ahead of the second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup Final. Orebonye could become the first local men’s football player to win a continent inter-club competition. Over the weekend, the forward earned a place in the history books when he became the first local player to play in a CAF competition final. Orebonye’s USM Alger beat Tanzania’s Young Africans 2-1 in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup Final played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The striker started and lasted the entire match as the Algerian side secured the crucial win away from home. The two teams will meet in the second leg on Saturday and Orebonye will become only the second local player to earn a CAF inter-club title after the Mares’ Sedilame Bosija. However, due to injury, the goalkeeper could only watch from the sidelines as her side Mamelodi Sundowns clinched the inaugural CAF Women’s Champion League in 2021. Bosija, who was registered for the competition by Sundowns, walked away with a medal.

Tomorrow, ‘Teenage’ is expected to lead USM Alger from the front. He has been the team’s main striker since his arrival in February. The striker has made 15 appearances thus far for the club; five of which were in the CAF Confederation Cup and he has scored a single goal.

Orebonye is in a closed camp and kept away from the general public as USM Alger prepares for the Saturday showdown. Just miles off the USM Alger base, Gape Mohutsiwa’s ASO Chlef has secured a Coupe Nationale (National Cup) final berth. ‘Adibal’ lasted the entire match as his side knocked out Saoura 3-1 in the semi-final. It is the central midfielder’s first final appearance since exchanging Jwaneng Galaxy for ASO Chlef at the beginning of the season.

Mohutsiwa had a good start at his new home but was derailed by an injury that kept him out of action for over two months but he has since reclaimed his spot in the team. In Morocco, speedy forward, Kabelo Seakanyeng is reeling in the relegation battle with his side, Olympique de Khourigba (OCK). Seakanyeng is enduring his worst season since moving to OCK as he has only managed seven appearances this season and scored once. He, however, spent the first half of the season on loan at Dibba Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In South Africa, Zebras’ captain, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe helped his side, SuperSport United finish third in the DStv Premiership. He has been an integral part of the team with 25 starts from 26 league appearances. The defender is leaving for Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs this winter. He has amassed 82 league appearances in his four-year stay in Pretoria. The Mares’ duo of Bosija and Refilwe Tholakele claimed the league honours i n South Africa. The club has this season used Bosija sparingly, while Tholakele has a goal in four appearances after joining Sundowns recently.