BLOEMFONTEIN – The Marumo Gallants football team fought gallantly to defy the odds in this year’s edition of the Carling Knockout Cup, reaching the final. They atoned for last year’s failure in the semifinal, beating Lamontville Golden Arrows 4 – 2 via penalties in the semifinal on Sunday 9 November.
The winner was decided via penalties after the two clubs were gridlocked 2-all in regulation time and extra time. In last year’s edition the Bahlabane ba Ntwa were knockout by Mamelodi Sundowns, 0-2. This achievement see the Gallants keep alive their big dream of winning their first major title as well as the prospects of their new head coach, Alexandre Lafitte securing his first major trophy in South African elite football rank.
In the grand final scheduled for Saturday 6 December, in the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo, the Gallants will face off against football giants Orlando Pirates for the coveted trophy. The Buccaneers progressed to the final after narrowly beating Richards Bay 1 – 0 in the other semifinal played on Saturday 8 November.
Goals set by trainers
Pirates attained this under the Gallants’ former head coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou. The Moroccan mentor had a short spell with the Gallants last season, helping them avoid relegation at the end of the 2024-’25 football season.
The Frenchman Lafitte (28) has made history by being the youngest coach to lead a South African club to the final of a major cup competition. Progressing to the final brings him a step closer to achieving the target of winning one major trophy as set by the club’s president, Dr Abram Sello.
The target is part of the two-year deal signed at the start of this season. The club owner set the Frenchman the target of winning at least one major title on offer in South Africa’s top-flight league and securing a top eight berth in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
The stakes are big in this tournament. The winner is guaranteed R6,85 million and the runners-up R2,85 million.
