Butler�s project nets 54 players in five months

Mqondisi Dube | Friday July 4, 2014 07:00

 

Since taking over in February, he has shuffled his pack with unremitting regularity. The stocky former West Ham United player has cast his net far and wide, in the process landing players from the previously ignored First Division. His wide-ranging selection has thus far yielded 54 players, a majority of whom are untested at international level. 

Some of the names hardly ring a bell when football is mentioned but players such as Nico United striker, Onkabetse Makgantai and Pelonte Lerole and Ogomoditswe Baoleni from Maun Tigers have become constant features in Butlers’ squad.

After dismissing Tanzania 4-2 in a friendly match on Tuesday, Butler maintained he will continue blooding youngsters. Increasingly, there are fewer recognisable faces in the national team and the new coach has made it clear he wants to build a squad for the future.

Unlike his predecessor, Stanley Tshosane, who stuck with a compact tried and tested line-up, Butler has proved he is ready to tinker his with his selection. “I will continue to use youngsters. They proved today that competition for places is stiff. 

The youngsters played well,” Butler said on Tuesday. In each game, the coach has watched a new cap raise his hand. But none has gone on to cement a place in the squad. BMC holding midfielder, Keorapetse Seloiso was a shining beacon in the 3-0 demolition of South Sudan in Butler’s first assignment, but has been a peripherial figure since. Striker, Unobatsha Mbaiwa showed deft touches in the South Sudan match but has been sidelined for the more established frontliners.

Against Swaziland in another friendly match, pencil slim Jwaneng Comets midfielder, Lebogang Ditsele stood tall only to falter terribly against Burundi in the reverse leg of the AFCON first round encounter. Butler tips Ditsele to last a few seasons in the local scene before moving abroad.

On Tuesday against Tanzania, the coach picked some bright spots with Thato Ogopotse and Karabo Phiri immense in midfield. Ogopotse lasted the gruelling 90 minutes in which his teammates often served cold football though luckily, they were clinical against a fading Tanzania.  Phiri was energy personified as he combined hard work with some slick touches, which earned him a deserved goal. Gaborone United’s Phiri is only 20 while Ditsele is the youngest at 19, raising early hopes of a bright Zebras future.

Butler has promised to offer opportunities to youngsters as he prepares for what should be a testing AFCON qualifier against Guinea Bissau on July 19. Already, the BFA has reportedly thrown its full weight behind the coach’s budding project and Butler has acres of space to build the future.