Ex-Pirates Stars Win Promotion In Botswana

Former Orlando Pirates players Rooi Mahamutsa and Sifiso Myeni helped VTM FC to gain promotion to the Botswana Premier League via the play-offs on Saturday.

Myeni, 34, was signed by VTM at the beginning of the season on a one-year-deal. His move came as a surprise to many South African football supporters after he had been without a club since leaving TS Sporting in the South African second division in 2020.

Mahamutsa, meanwhile, was asked by the club chairman to come and motivate the players of VTM early in February, playing in SA’s amateur levels at the time.

However, the 41-year-old impressed so much that the club opted to sign the veteran defender.

And together the duo rolled back the years in the Botswana South First Division, helping the club to finish in second place and head into the promotion play-offs against Chadibe North FC.

After a 1-0 first-leg defeat away from home, VTM won the second leg at home 2-1 on Saturday, with the tie heading into penalties.

The home side ended up victorious on penalties and secured a first-ever promotion to the Botswana Premier League.

It marks the latest climax of an incredible rise for VTM after buying a status in the regional league three years back. Last year, they got promotion to the First Division and now secured back-to-back promotion to play Botswana’s top flight.