Butler dazzled as Boy dazzles

Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday October 14, 2014 08:00

 

But it was all in vain. A few metres from the dazzling Boy displays, coach Peter Butler appeared dazzled. His side was torn to shreds as the Morocco 2015 dream was shattered into smithereens, writes MQONDISI DUBE

For the first time since accepting the Zebras job, coach Peter Butler appeared bamboozled on the touchline against Egypt.   On a night in which the brilliance of the left foot was immense and ultimately influential, Butler had no answers to the flowing Egyptians.

Both Segolame Boy and Mohamed Salah presented respective defences with left footed headaches. Boy, who only last season was plying his trade for modest Miscellaneous, rose to the occasion with some dizzying football. He was flawless throughout the night and his every touch increased the volume inside what is considered the home of Botswana football. His left foot looked immaculate for the better part of the night. 

At the opposite end of the pitch, Egyptian playmaker, Salah who cost Chelsea 11million pounds when he moved from Swiss side, Basel last January was a sore sight for the home defence, but a sparkling jewel to the few visiting fans. He justified why he earns around 30,000 pounds (approximately P400,000) after every seven days at Chelsea.

Salah’s namesake, Mohamed Elneny was the first to push the Zebras AFCON campaign closer to the cliff edge, before the Chelsea midfielder applied the decisive nudge with a neat left foot finish for a 2-0 win.

While Salah justified why he is playing for one of the top clubs in the world, Boy equally posed questions as to how long he will last on the local scene with a stupendous night. 

While his more experienced Zebras counterparts, notably off form South Africa based pair, Joel Mogorosi and Mogakolodi ‘Tsotso’ Ngele were like lambs to the slaughter, Boy was defiant.  Platinum Stars goalkeeper, Kabelo Dambe kept the hosts in the game with a number of saves early in the game as Egypt threatened to overrun their opponents. The defence dithered in critical moments and Egypt took full advantage. 

Butler appeared baffled and failed to ring game changing substitutions. The team was flat with Mogorosi and Ngele failing to provide the needed inspiration.

Fans were left wondering why Galabgwe Moyana did not play a part in the proceeding. The winger has always breathed life into the Zebras play each time he is introduced, including a cheeky goal straight from the corner spot against Zimbabwe on Independence Day.

With Butler seemingly tying his tactics in knots and haplessly watching the train smash, the nation would be gratified with Boy’s progress who is likely to be lost to a South African team next season.

While the Zebras’ campaign capitulated before a teeming National Stadium, Egypt’s faltering campaign received the desperate kiss of life it had yearned. The Pharoahs moved to three points with the win while the Zebras remain point less.  Tunisia and Senegal, who meet again tomorrow, have a four-point cushion at the top on seven points. 

Qualifying for January’s finals now appear a Herculian task with no points and three games left for the Zebras. Two are tough away assignments to Egypt tomorrow and Senegal in November. Tunisia will visit Gaborone next month.