New Zebras coach to be in place by Sunday
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 11, 2026 10:29
BFA acting CEO, Bathusi Rathari said the Executive Committee was treating the appointment as an urgent matter following Ramoreboli’s decision to leave the Zebras and join Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana technical team. SAFA and the BFA confirmed on Tuesday that Ramoreboli will leave his position in Botswana to become an assistant to Mosimane. His departure came shortly after the BFA announced the provisional squad for Botswana’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya and Tunisia. “The Executive Committee is treating this as a matter of urgency,” Rathari said in an interview with MmegiSport on Wednesday. “The process to appoint the person who will lead the Zebras for the September qualifiers is already underway.
An announcement will be made as soon as the internal processes and contractual engagements are concluded well ahead of the FIFA window.” The Zebras open their Group H campaign away to Libya on September 24 before hosting Tunisia four days later. CAF has scheduled the first two rounds of the qualifiers between September 24 and October 6. Despite Ramoreboli’s departure, Rathari said preparations would not have to start from scratch. Ramoreboli remains in Botswana to assist with the handover, including the preliminary squad selection conducted with his technical team. “The coach is still here in Botswana and will be with us doing the handovers,” Rathari revealed. “Part of the handover was to make preliminary squad selection together with his technical team.” The final decision on the squad, however, will rest with the incoming technical team. Rathari said the new coach would review the provisional selection and make changes where necessary. “Whilst any change in the technical team requires adjustment, the core preparations and programme remain intact,” he said.
“The team will be going into camp from the 13th September 2026 and by then the interim and/or substantive technical team will be in place to do the final selections.” The incoming coach will therefore have little time to settle in before finalising the squad and preparing for the qualifiers. The BFA has not indicated whether it will opt for an interim appointment for the September window or move directly to a substantive appointment. That uncertainty has already prompted speculation over possible candidates. Bulgarian coach, Dimitar Pantev, has been mentioned locally as a possible candidate, although there is no indication from the BFA that he is under consideration. Ramoreboli's trusted lieutenants, Pontsho Moloi and Oarabile Seabo, are also said to be in consideration for a co-coaching deal. The pair served as assistant coaches under the departing South African technician. The BFA also faces questions over Ramoreboli’s early departure. He was appointed Zebras coach on a two-year contract but has left after about a year to join Mosimane’s Bafana setup. SAFA and the BFA reached an agreement to facilitate his release. Rathari declined to disclose details of Ramoreboli’s contract. “As a matter of policy, the BFA is not in a position to discuss details of Mr Ramoreboli’s employment contracts in public,” he said.
Rathari confirmed, however, that contractual obligations, including any release provisions, were being handled between the two associations. “Any matters regarding compensation, if any, will be addressed directly between the two federations,” he said. Meanwhile, the BFA has also moved to strengthen its junior national teams, appointing Thaloba ‘Machine’ Nthaga as Under-23 head coach and Oris ‘Boyo’ Radipotsane as U20 head coach. Nthaga will be assisted by Michael ‘Lepako’ Mogaladi and Rapelang ‘Raizor’ Tsatsilebe, with Davis Puso as goalkeeper coach. Radipotsane will work with Vincent ‘Ortega’ Kgaswane and Joel ‘Juluka’ Mogorosi, with Musenge ‘Pullen’ Busang as goalkeeper coach. The appointments are interim and assignment-specific as the BFA continues with its longer-term technical appointment process. Zebras provisional squad Goalkeepers: Cedric Ramojela (Tonota FC), Victor James (Caps United FC, Zimbabwe), Thabo Motswagole (Gaborone United), Goitseone Phoko (Siwelele FC, South Africa), Keagile Kgosipula (Mochudi Centre Chiefs). Defenders: Botsile Sakana, Tebogo Kopelang, Larona Modisamang, Chicco Molefe (all Jwaneng Galaxy), Thato Mosweunyane, Roy Omphile, Bernard Kebotseng (all Tonota FC), Alford Velaphi, Kitso Mangolo (both Gaborone United), Mosha Gaolaolwe (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Tumisang Mokopi (Nico United), Thatayaone Ditlhoko (Al Wehdat, Jordan), Gothusang Osego (Orapa United), Kabelo Thari, Tefo Molefe (both Police XI), Mompati Sohangnyetso (Enesia FC), and Karabo Tsheole (Mochudi Real Masters FC). Midfielders: Mothusi Cooper, Phillip Kaku (both Tonota FC), Gape Mohutsiwa (Ittihad Tanger, Morocco), Ricky Ratlhogo (Orapa United), Omphile Ramoagi, Lebogang Ditsile (both Gaborone United), Monty Enosa, Mpho Kgaswane (both Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Kudzani Sibanda (Enesia FC), Keitumetse Samuzala, Olebogeng Ramatse (both Jwaneng Galaxy), Darren Matshuba (Morupule Wanderers), and Godiraone Modingwane (BDF XI). Forwards: Tony Hutshe (Dinare FC), Ronaldo Fortune (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Tshepo Kesebale, Boikobo Rannyena, Kgotso Radithonhwa (all Jwaneng Galaxy), Eric Ookame (Orapa United), Chivese Kesekile (Extension Gunners), Losika Ratshukudu (NK Slaven Belupo, Croatia), Thero Setsile, Tumiso Tshotlego (both Tonota FC), Gaone Japane (Morupule Wanderers), Karabo Kelatlhilwe, Lemogang Sefemo (both Police XI), Pitso Lekgape (Nico United), Odirile Lekoba (Enesia FC), Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Gaborone United), Tumisang Orebonye (Jwaneng Galaxy), Thapelo Balatlheng (Sua Flamingoes), and Tumisang Orebonye (Wydad, Morocco)