Butler wins round one but...

Staff Writer | Thursday February 13, 2014 20:29

However, he immediately won over a number of people with his eloquence and confidence.The new man is tasked with reviving the faltering fortunes of a team, which was named the best in the continent in 2011.

Butler was thoroughly convincing during a two-hour press conference and left Lekidi Centre with his profile enhanced.

His CV is hardly intimidating in terms of results but the BFA would always argue that it got one of the best-qualified coaches with a UEFA Pro Licence.

Butler has got round one in the bag, winning over critics who thought of him as nothing but a tourist on holiday, seconded by fellow Briton, Keith Masters.

His presentation left those in attendance convinced that the man has the charisma and the ideas to rescue the Zebras.

However, he has to prove his tactical acumen on the field of play, watched by thousands of fans. This will be the litmus test.

Butler will be the first to admit that the first round test was akin to picking a low hanging fruit when he is asked to walk the talk.

Botswana fans are a loving lot; that is if you deliver. Veselin Jelusic won admirers despite arriving as a little known Serbian but left a highly regarded coach.

Butler is staring at the opportunity of carving a niche for himself only if he can match his swashbuckling presentation with action.

Botswana is littered with examples of people who arrived or presented themselves as men and women of honour, only to leave disgraced.

We want to give Butler a chance to prove himself and only judge him based on what he achieves on the pitch.

It will be tantamount to suicide or pressing the self-destruct button for the nation to start questioning his potential before he is tested.

The BFA has made its choice, and from what emerged at the press briefing, Butler was selected through a rigorous process, which saw him beat 18 other candidates.

This means he has the pedigree, at least based on his theory presentation, to take the Zebras forward.

Over the years, a culture of negativity has crept in, largely due to the gloom and doom surrounding the Zebras. But Butler’s appointment presents a perfect platform for fans to rally behind the new man as the team’s success cannot be left to hang on one person’s shoulder.