I qualify to coach Zebras- Mpote
Kabelo Boranabi - Mqondisi Dube | Saturday February 5, 2022 06:00
There were questions marks over whether the Orapa United coach's qualifications allow him to sit on the Zebras bench, with a CAF A license the requisite to lead a national team. Mpote has a CAF B license, but he told Mmegi Sport in a brief interview that he will respond to all queries regarding question marks over his Zebras role. "BFA is the right office to ask those questions.
I still have a running contract with Orapa but I will respond to those questions if there is an agreement with BFA. But I do qualify to take charge of the national team," Mpote said briefly. BFA's acting chief executive officer, Tshepo Mphukuthi said, "Yes, he can," in a brief response to a Mmegi Sport question. Mpote returns for his second stint after he led the Zebras to the final of the 2019 COSAFA Cup, where the team lost 1-0 to Zambia. Gaborone United's Pontsho 'Piro' Moloi and Maitumelo Letlamoreng of Police XI are tipped to take up the Zebras assistant coaches' role for the two-legged AFCON qualifier. Letlamoreng, like Mpote, has a CAF B while Moloi has a CAF C license. The BFA said Mpote will address a press conference on Tuesday. "BFA wishes to inform members of the media and public that the association has appointed Mr Mogomotsi Mpote as head coach of the men's senior national team. Mpote comes into the role on an interim basis for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary games against Eritrea.
The interim head coach is expected to address the media on Tuesday at Lekidi Centre. The coach will, at the press briefing, officially announce his assistant and backroom staff," the BFA said in a statement yesterday.
Mpote's appointment comes after BFA dissolved the Zebras' technical team following the departure of Belgian coach, Adel Amrouche last June. Almost a year later, the BFA is yet to appoint a substantive replacement for Amrouche with lack of funds cited as the main reason. Last week, the Zebras were drawn against minnows, Eritrea in the 2023 AFCON preliminary round of qualifiers.
The two teams will meet over two legs between March 21-29 for a spot in the group stage round of qualifiers. Mmegi Sport is informed due to the current financial situation at Lekidi Football Centre, an interim technical team has been preferred for the Eritrea tie. Moloi, despite his inexperience at national level, is said to have caught the eye of the BFA following impressive displays with GU.
He led the Reds for a fourth position before the 2019-2020 season was halted. At the time, Moloi's Reds were just four points behind eventual winners Jwaneng Galaxy. This season, serving as assistant coach to Innocent Morapedi, Moloi has presided over the Reds' impressive performance as they lost just once this campaign and have bagged the first silverware of the season, winning the Orange FA Cup in December. Serbian coach, Veselin Jelusic has been linked with a return to the Zebras’ job on a permanent basis.