Only a miracle will see Zebras qualify for AFCON 2015
| Friday February 7, 2014 14:16
Despite unrest back home, the Libyans were like a breath of fresh air throughout the tournament. The Libyans were quite enterprising and this forced me to think of our own situation here in Botswana.
Do the Libyans have a good grass root structure or do they have a strong league. Neither of the two I would say. However, what was obvious was that they were well motivated, prepared and well drilled.
On the other hand, we have South Africa whose infrastructure and resources cannot be compared to any in the continent but yet are struggling and could not even make it for the knock out stage. What therefore can Botswana learn from the Libyans.
The national team is currently inactive and does not even have a coach yet the qualifiers for the 2015 AFCON finals are just around the corner. Does this mean that the Zebras have already been condemned before the games even kick off?
Surely it will be a miracle if the Zebras can make it to the finals because for starters, the new coach who ever will be, will have to acclimatize and adapt to our set up.
The new coach will have to come up with a training or preparation programme, which the national executive has to budget for.
Perhaps the Botswana Football Association (BFA) president Tebogo Sebego or his chief executive officer, Keith Masters can tell us how much they have reserved for the team. This shouldn’t be a big challenge as they are previous budgets to compare.
In-fact perhaps it is only appropriate to ask as to how has the association budgeted for the Zebras’ qualifiers and how much of that amount is the Botswana National Sports Council willing to pay.
Can the hosting of the All Africa Youth Games have a bearing on the funding of the Zebras? Given the amount needed for these games I am afraid we might hear some bad news with regard to the Zebras.
Football despite being the national sport still has to cement its place within sport. Former coach, Stanley Tshosane and his team tried their best by qualifying for AFCON 2012 but again took the Zebras down in the subsequent campaign. The Zebras are really pressed for time and the composition of the team will be another factor. I would advise the association that while still battling to get a coach, they should assign Phillmon Makwengwe to assemble the team. If he can win the Coca-Cola Cup with Gaborone United then he can hold the forte for a while. Besides he is one coach who does not believe much in the long ball or too much defensive play.
A care taker coach is needed as a matter of urgency if the team is to represent us with dignity.
CAF
Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Gaborone United are once more trying their luck in the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup respectively. Both sides have been drawn against tough or experienced opponents.
Zimbabwe’s Dynamos who host Chiefs on Sunday at Rufaro Stadium are regulars in this competition and have before advanced as far as the final.
The Zimbabwean league however is not that far ahead from ours hence with the right frame of mind and tactics, Chiefs can pull off a surprise.
The team however, needs to improve its combination in the last quarter of the pitch. Of the games that I have watched, their decision making and distribution in the last third has been wanting to say the list.
The work rate and fitness level will be another factor as Dynamos will be cheered on by multitudes of its supporters.
An early exit would be disastrous for Botswana football. GU equally face a daunting task in Pretoria where they will be guest to Supersport United. GU’s advantage would be coach, Major David Bright has extensive experience in Africa as coach of the Under-23 and Zebras.
The team’s Achilles’ Heel however still remains its strike force as well as the defence which always lose concentration. The defence is suspect with crosses and set pieces into the box.
Premier League
The writing seem to b be on the wall for TAFIC that the club will relegate unless something else happen. This has been the story for the Francistown and Selibe Phikwe based teams. Every year is either a team from Selibe Phikwe or Francistown relegates. If it’s not SATMOS, its TASC or TAFIC.
Uniao Flamingo Santos is another club starring relegation and will need all the support and courage it can master. A few years ago the club was said to be teaming up with transport magnate Seabelo Tlhaselo but it looks like the relationship never blossomed hence the club has lost majority of its senior players including coach, Chifedi.
What an irony that the club led by the Premier League chairman, Mike Molefhe should relegate. Is there going to be yet another vacancy for the chairmanship position?
The Premier League should start looking and assessing candidates. Not long ago Segolame Ramotlhwa left and now it looks like Molefhe is on his way out. His former assistant, Gift Kealeboga Mogapi has been surrounded by all sorts of controversy. Leadership vacuum is beckoning for the controversy prone league.