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Baptism of fire for Butler

Thuso Palai | Wednesday May 14, 2014 10:39

Butler
 
Butler

The first leg is away on May 17, with the return leg in a fortnight. After we beat Burundi, we will face either Central African Republic or Guinea Bissau in the second round, and then proceed to the Group stages where we will face Egypt, Tunisia and Senegal.

When he was appointed, there were mixed reactions. His appointment evoked commentary from all over. Some were for and some were against. I was one of those who were for: I’m one person who gives others a chance. And like I said when he was appointed, he is no world beater, doesn’t have much experience coaching a national team and hasn’t worked extensively in Africa. Well, everybody else who has those must have started somewhere. Obviously I had my preferred candidate but it does not mean I should not support whoever is appointed. I have always maintained that I will support Butler until he gives me reasons not to. For now I’m behind him 100%.  That is however here nor there, and it doesn’t really matter now whether we agreed with his appointment or not. What we need to do now is rally behind him and his charges. He has a mountain to climb and he has to do a lot to prove the doubting thomasses wrong. Will he manage? We all wait with baited breathe. 

When Zebras beat out-of-sorts & newcomers South Sudan 3-0, most people praised head coach Peter Butler for introducing an attacking & exciting football. Although I was impressed by the performance, it was too early for me to judge and I reserved my comments back then. The team has gone on to play two more friendly matches, one against Platinum Stars and the other against Swaziland, and we lost the two games dismally. Still, for me it’s too early to judge.Yes; I’m worried but I cannot judge based on friendly matches. These two friendly matches have in a way put him under some pressure.

For now I will give Butler the benefit of the doubt. The big test is this weekend against Burundi, when he will have his entire arsenal at his disposal. This is the time for him to start convincing the doubting Thomasses that he is indeed the right man for the position. As for me, I will judge after three to six official games. I understand that he comes in with a different philosophy and mostly new, younger players who are inexperienced at national team level. I will therefore afford him a few games to get things right and If he does not convince me in three to six games, then I will air my discontent. For now; I’m worried by the bad results that we got against Platinum Stars and Swaziland, but I’m not yet at breaking point. However, football is a result based business and if results are nort forthcoming, the fans will in a flash turn against him.

We go into the AFCON 2015 qualifiers with hope. And all we can do is be positive and have faith in the coach and the players. He is blooding in new, younger players, but he has to be careful that we are not steam-rolled. One way or another; this is a really tough start for Peter Butler.

The first leg is away on May 17, with the return leg in a fortnight. After we beat Burundi, we will face either Central African Republic or Guinea Bissau in the second round, and then proceed to the Group stages where we will face Egypt, Tunisia and Senegal.
When he was appointed, there were mixed reactions. His appointment evoked commentary from all over. Some were for and some were against. I was one of those who were for: I’m one person who gives others a chance. And like I said when he was appointed, he is no world beater, doesn’t have much experience coaching a national team and hasn’t worked extensively in Africa. Well, everybody else who has those must have started somewhere. Obviously I had my preferred candidate but it does not mean I should not support whoever is appointed. I have always maintained that I will support Butler until he gives me reasons not to. For now I’m behind him 100%.  That is however here nor there, and it doesn’t really matter now whether we agreed with his appointment or not. What we need to do now is rally behind him and his charges. He has a mountain to climb and he has to do a lot to prove the doubting thomasses wrong. Will he manage? We all wait with baited breathe. 
When Zebras beat out-of-sorts & newcomers South Sudan 3-0, most people praised head coach Peter Butler for introducing an attacking & exciting football. Although I was impressed by the performance, it was too early for me to judge and I reserved my comments back then. The team has gone on to play two more friendly matches, one against Platinum Stars and the other against Swaziland, and we lost the two games dismally. Still, for me it’s too early to judge. Yes; I’m worried but I cannot judge based on friendly matches. These two friendly matches have in a way put him under some pressure.
For now I will give Butler the benefit of the doubt. The big test is this weekend against Burundi, when he will have his entire arsenal at his disposal. This is the time for him to start convincing the doubting Thomasses that he is indeed the right man for the position. As for me, I will judge after three to six official games. I understand that he comes in with a different philosophy and mostly new, younger players who are inexperienced at national team level. I will therefore afford him a few games to get things right and If he does not convince me in three to six games, then I will air my discontent. For now; I’m worried by the bad results that we got against Platinum Stars and Swaziland, but I’m not yet at breaking point. However, football is a result based business and if results are nort forthcoming, the fans will in a flash turn against him.
We go into the AFCON 2015 qualifiers with hope. And all we can do is be positive and have faith in the coach and the players. He is blooding in new, younger players, but he has to be careful that we are not steam-rolled. One way or another; this is a really tough start for Peter Butler.