Mares' 25% win rate could force BFA into change
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday March 3, 2025 09:07
As Gaolethoo 'Ronaldo' Nkutlwisang left the Mares in September 2023, there were loud calls to insert Alex Malete into the role. It turned out to be a perfect match for the coach who made his debut as an international coach with the Mares at only 29-years-old. He marked his arrival with a 1-0 win over Namibia in the 2020 Olympic Games qualifiers. At the time, he was standing in for Gaolethoo and remained part of the technical team for the team's debut at the WAFCON finals. Having spent the majority of his formative years of his coaching path in the women's circles, Malete was viewed as far ahead of his colleagues with the Botswana Football Association (BFA) in the hunt for Gaolethoo's replacement. The now 35-year-old tactician etched his name in history as he became the fourth coach to lead a Botswana team at the finals of a continental tournament, joining the ranks of Stan Tshoswane (AFCON 2012), Kaizer Kobedi (AFCON U17 2023), and Nkutlwisang (WAFCON 2022). In the interim role, Malete masterminded a 2-1 aggregate win over Kenya to book a spot at the 2024 WAFCON finals.
The coach was given the role on a full-time basis in January 2024 and went on to guide the team in 12 games in all competitions. The tenure started with a 4-0 defeat against Russia in a friendly tie. He recorded his first win against Lesotho with a 2-1 score line. In a five-friendly game series as part of the 2024 WAFCON finals, the team played two more draws against Namibia and Tanzania before a 1-0 defeat to Tunisia. Under Malete, the Mares bowed out in the group stages of the 2024 COSAFA Women's Championship despite being rated amongst the tournament's favourites. The team played to draws against Malawi and Madagascar whilst recording a 5-0 win over Mauritius. However, despite amassing five points, the Mares failed to reach the semi-finals of the competition in one of the team's worst outputs in recent times. The focus shifted back to the preparatory games as Mares were beaten 3-1 by continental powerhouse Morocco before a 1-0 win over Mali in an international friendly tournament played last November. Malete's biggest task was the opening round of the 2026 WAFCON against the DRC. He was put in a rather odd situation after the 2024 edition was postponed to this July and the coach had to prepare the team for the finals whilst kick-starting another qualification phase. Despite being ranked above the Mares and with a better outlook in terms of internationally-based players, the DRC did not look much of a threat. The first leg at home was proof and the DRC was lucky to escape the Mares' onslaught as they snatched a 2-0 win, thanks to an early own goal and a last-minute strike. It proved to be a tough ask for Malete's squad to overturn the score away from home.
The team's woes were worsened by unpleasant hospitality in DRC. In a press briefing, Malete revealed their training sessions were disturbed due to stadium lighting, whilst the team did not have adequate security in a country that is in the grip of civil unrest. The events reached a peak when a brick was thrown at the Mares' team bus during their stay in Kinshasa. However, the local girls were not deterred as they managed a spirited 0-0 draw against DRC but bowed out of the competition at the first time of asking. This is the team's worst performance in three WAFCON qualification phases. The team looked a better side since making their WAFCON debut. The current squad consists of eight players based abroad, with two in Europe. The DRC defeat is the Mares' fifth under Malete while the team has won only three times making it a 25% success rate in 12 games. With the addition of the two games as interim, Malete only won four, and lost five whilst he has played to a draw on five occasions in 14 games since November 2023.
He will now shift his focus to the 2024 WAFCON finals where the Mares face record champions, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Algeria. Pundits say Malete is living on borrowed time with the Mares whilst some suggest the top brass at Lekidi Football Centre has been advised against a head coach change just four months before the WAFCON finals.