Marumo Gallants have sensationally reached the semi-finals of the CAF Confederations Cup after knocking money-rich Pyramids out of the competition, beating them 1-0 in the second leg at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday and 2-1 on aggregate.
A bizarre season of Marumo Gallants that was mired by blows off the field issues might end up with a flourish.
Outgoing midfielder Celimpilo Ngema, who has been the star for the club’s fractured season, riffled home in the 39th minute, with the Limpopo side winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate.
Gallants, in reaching the semis of this cup, joined Orlando Pirates (twice), Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United respectively.
With those four teams having also reached the final, Gallants will hope to emulate them too and possibly win it.
Gallants were deserved to win the tie after getting an incredible 1-1 draw away in the first leg through Ranga Chivaviro’s important goal, before the moment of madness by former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sibusiso Kumalo leaving his hands in the air resulted in the penalty scored by Ramadan Sobhi, who once had the world on his feet.
The former Stoke City striker converted the spot kick for an equaliser in the referee’s added minute.
Funny that Gallants is in this stage of the competition having endured so much this season, one shoe in to be relegated.
But players such as Chivaviro, Ngema, Lucky Mohomi and Tshepo Gumede have been essential in the team’s success in this competition and their climb up in the DStv Premiership table.
It was a spare moment of thought for former Cape Town City forward Fagrie Lakay, who featured in this game having missed the first leg in Egypt last weekend. He had a sight of goal early on in the game but the chance went away.
But the most important goal arrived for Gallants through Ngema in the 39th minute, though Ahmed Elshanawi had his fingers in it but it was hit with some power.
A few minutes later, Gallants were fraction away to add the second but Elshanawi produced a big save. Ngema also had another ball falling for him but it rebounded off the Pyramids defense.
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This is the first time that two South African clubs are in the semi finals of both CAF club competitions since 2001, as Mamelodi Sundowns booked their spot in the Champions League semis on Saturday.
Chiefs went to the final of this competition 22 years ago and won it when it was known as African Cup Winners’ Cup. Sundowns followed Chiefs in Champions League to reach the final in the same year but lost it when it was known as African Cup of Champions Club cup.
