| Founded | 2012 |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Current champions | Orapa United (2019–20) |
| Most successful club(s) | Gaborone United Township Rollers Jwaneng Galaxy Orapa United (2 titles) |
The Mascom Top 8 Cup is a football cup competition in Botswana. It was created in 2012, and features the top eight finishers from the Botswana Premier League. [1] [2] [3]
Since 2013, the winners qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup, as the FA Challenge Cup is not played. This was stopped in 2019 with the return of the FA Cup.
The Mascom Top 8 Cup is played by the top eight finishers from the previous season of the Premier League. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are played as two-legged ties both home and away, with a once-off final. In the case where the scores are tied after the two-legged ties, the Away goals rule will apply to decide the winner. However, this rule only applies in the first 90 minutes. If the aggregate score and the away goals scored are level after the 90 minutes of the 2nd leg, the teams will proceed to extra time and the Away goals rule will be disregarded thereafter. This means that if the aggregate score is still tied after extra time, the match will proceed to a penalty shoot-out regardless of the away goals scored in that 30 minutes.
This slight deviation from the standard Away goals rule led to controversy in the semi-final of the 2018–19 Mascom Top 8 Gaborone Derby clash between bitter rivals Township Rollers and Gaborone United. Rollers had won the 1st leg 2-0 away. In the 2nd leg, United also won 2-0 away, meaning the match would then proceed to extra time with the 2-2 aggregate score and Away goals rule would not apply then. In extra time, Rollers pulled one back before a late United penalty restored their 2 goal advantage to finish the match at 3-1 (aggregate 3-3). At the end of extra time, Rollers fans and players prematurely celebrated as they thought they were through to the final on away goals. After a delay and reference to the rules of the competition, the penalty shoot-out was eventually played to a mostly empty National Stadium as most of the fans had left, oblivious to what was transpiring on the field of play. [4]
Gaborone United won the shoot-out 10-9 and proceeded to the final where they'd suffer a 0-2 defeat to Jwaneng Galaxy.
| Club | Wins | First final won | Last final won | Runners up | Last final lost | Total final appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Township Rollers | 2 | 2012 | 2018 | 4 | 2020 | 6 |
| Gaborone United | 2 | 2013 | 2015 | 1 | 2019 | 3 |
| Jwaneng Galaxy | 2 | 2017 | 2019 | – | – | 2 |
| Orapa United | 2 | 2016 | 2020 | 2 | 2018 | 4 |
| BDF XI | 1 | 2014 | 2014 | 1 | 2013 | 2 |
| Francistown City Greens | – | – | – | 1 | 2012 | 1 |
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.
The Botswana Premier League, currently known as the BTC Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is the highest level football league in Botswana. Organised by the Botswana Football Association, the league was formed in 1978 to replace the pre-independence Bechuanaland Union African Soccer League, which was regional. Participants in the first edition of the league included Tlokweng Pirates, Notwane, Black Peril, Queens Park Rangers and a team from Ngwaketse district.
Nikola Kavazović is a Serbian professional football coach.
Orapa United FC is a Botswana football club based in Orapa. The team currently plays in Botswana Premier League having gained promotion from Botswana First Division North League in the 2013–14 season.
The 2015–16 Botswana Premier League was the 51st season of the Botswana Premier League since its establishment in 1966. Township Rollers won their 13th league title after defeating Centre Chiefs, 5–1, in the championship playoff. The playoff was announced following controversy as to who the rightful champion was following a series of point deductions and appeals. Township Rollers were docked 10 points for using ineligible player Ofentse Nato, dropping from 70 points to 60 and into second place with the decision. Following a series of appeals by both Township Rollers and Centre Chiefs, the Botswana Football Association decided to hold a championship game at the National Stadium on June 15, although the match was later postponed and played on August 11 at Molepolole Stadium in Molepolole.
The 2016–17 Botswana Premier League is the 52nd season of the Botswana Premier League since its establishment in 1966. Township Rollers clinched their second straight league title and 14th overall.
Jwaneng Galaxy Football Club is a Botswana football club based in Jwaneng. The club currently plays in the Botswana Premier League.
The 2017–18 Mascom Top 8 Cup was the seventh edition of the Mascom Top 8 Cup. It was played from 24 November 2017 to 3 March 2018 by the top eight teams from the 2016-17 Botswana Premier League. It was won by Township Rollers.
The 2018–19 Botswana Premier League is the 54th season of the Botswana Premier League, the top-tier football league in Botswana, since its establishment in 1966. The season started on 18 August 2018. The league drew an average attendance of 1,300 per match.
The 2011-12 Mascom Top 8 Cup, also known as Mascom Top 8 Cup Season 1, was the inaugural season of the Mascom Top 8 Cup. It was played from May to 29 July 2012. It featured the top eight teams from the 2010-11 Botswana Premier League season.
The 2013–14 Mascom Top 8 Cup was the third edition of the Mascom Top 8 Cup. It was played from November 2, 2013 to March 1, 2014 and featured the top eight teams from the 2012-13 Botswana Premier League. BDF XI defeated Township Rollers in the final to win their first title.
The 2019 FA Challenge Cup was the 46th edition of the FA Challenge Cup, Botswana's premier football knockout tournament. It was sponsored by Orange and was known as the Orange FA Cup or Orange FA Cup Season 1 for sponsorship reasons. It started with the preliminary round on the weekend of 16 February and concluded with the final on 15 June 2019.
Segolame Boy is a Motswana midfielder playing for Township Rollers in the Botswana Premier League.
Sekhana Koko is a Motswana footballer playing for Mochudi Centre Chiefs in the Botswana First Division South and the Botswana national football team.
Madinda Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean former footballer and manager currently in charge of Botswana Premier League club Gaborone United. He is generally considered one of the greatest Zimbabwean players of all time.
Mogomotsi Mpote is a Motswana former footballer and manager currently in charge of club Botswana.
The 2015–16 Mascom Top 8 Cup, also known as the Mascom Top 8 Season 5, was the fifth edition of the Mascom Top 8 Cup. It was played from 29 October 2015 to 23 April 2016 by the top eight teams from the 2014-15 Botswana Premier League. It was won by Orapa United.
The 2016–17 Mascom Top 8 Cup, also known as the Mascom Top 8 Season 6, was the sixth edition of the Mascom Top 8 Cup. It was played from 28 October 2016 to 1 April 2017 by the top eight teams from the 2015-16 Botswana Premier League. It was won by Jwaneng Galaxy.
Mwampule Masule is a Motswana professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Botswana national team and is currently a free agent. He last played for Botswana Premier League club Orapa United.
The 2019–20 Botswana Premier League was the 55th season of the Botswana Premier League, the top-tier football league in Botswana, since its establishment in 1966. The season started on 31 August 2019.
| National teams |
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League system |
| ||||
| Domestic cups |
| ||||
| Awards | |||||
| Lists | |||||
| |||||
