Harambee Stars Goalkeepers Suffer Heartbreaking Cup Exits in South Africa

Harambee Stars players goalkeepers Brain Bwire and Ian Otieno as well as forward Vincent Oburu started their season on the wrong footing in South Africa at the weekend.

Bwire, who plays for Polokwane City, was the first to suffer a loss in his first match of the new season when his team was beaten by Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 quarter-final, a competition played by teams that finish in the top eight in the South African league.

The former Tusker FC goalkeeper was the man in goal when defending champions Pirates, who are looking for a fourth MTN8 trophy in a row, hosted Polokwane at a sold-out Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday but he could not save his team from defeat.

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Pirates secured a 2-0 win, orchestrated by former Polokwane City winger Oswin Appollis, who left the club for the Soweto giants last month, the forward opening the scoring in the 13th minute before winning a penalty that was converted by Patrick Maswanganyi after 35 minutes.

For a second straight year, Bwire and his Polokwane City team-mates have seen their MTN8 journey end at the quarter-final.

Meanwhile, another Harambee Stars goalkeeper Otieno and winger Oburu were not even in the matchday squad as Richards Bay took on giants Mamelodi Sundowns in the final MTN8 quarter-final fixture of the weekend on Sunday evening.

That is a concern for the two players as it points to a potential limited gametime in the 2025-26 campaign but from the result, it looks like they could have done little to stop the Sundowns juggernaut at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday.

Sundowns raced to a 2-0 lead at the break after Iqraam Rayners headed in the opening goal in the 10th minute while Fortune Mcineka scored an own goal on the stroke of halftime.

After the interval, Rayners completed his brace with a well-taken goal against the run of play before teen sensation Siyabonga Mabena completed the 4-0 thrashing 14 minutes from time.

The three players will now turn their attention to the start of the South African league, which kick off this weekend, with Richards Bay hosting Marumo Gallants on Saturday as Polokwane welcome Magesi FC.