I am not here as a tourist - Butler

Mqondisi Dube | Thursday February 13, 2014 19:52

 

The stocky 47-year-old Briton has signed a three-year contract with the Botswana Football Association (BFA).

After his unveiling, he immediately declared that he is not in Botswana as a tourist. “I am not here as a tourist. I am not here for the money. I am here for the challenge,” he said. Butler pledged to improve the fortunes of the Zebras, a team that has plumbed the depths since it was named the best in Africa in 2011. He promised that he will make the Zebras play an attacking brand as he does not believe ‘in parking the bus’. Butler is a strong believer in young talent and has said he will work closely with the Under-20 and Under-23 sides.

“We have to raise standards across the board. When we go out, we should be competitive and not make numbers.

Modern day coaches set out not to lose matches, but I go out there to win,” an eloquent and confident Butler said. A bowled over BFA president, Tebogo Sebego described their union with the new man as a ‘match made in heaven’.

Sebego said they had gone through a rigorous exercise in recruiting Butler who made the grade by beating 18 other applicants.

Butler’s immediate task is to put together a team for the international friendly next month.

Sebego said they are in the process of organising the match during the March FIFA date. Butler will identify his own local technical team within three months. He is expected to steer the Zebras to the quarter-finals of the COSAFA Cup, reach the finals of the 2016 CHAN and ‘perform well’ in the 2015 AFCON finals. Butler parried claims he was nomadic, arguing that club contracts were shorter compared to the three-year job he has been given by the BFA. 

He has coached in three continents, with Africa being the fourth.  New technical director, Kgomela pledged to revive structures and ensure that football development at grassroots level is functional. Kgomela’s appointment had courted controversy, but Sebego explained that the association looked beyond a technical person.

“We decided to look for someone who is not only technically sound, but strong administratively as well.  This is what has been lacking at the BFA. That is why when you are employing, you have to tailor make your needs,” Sebego said.

Kgomela promised that with the technical team around him, he will deliver. “With this team, I will not go wrong,” he said.