Full strength Zebras train in Francistown

Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday September 2, 2015 18:00

Zebras coach Peter Butler with the team during the training at Old Francistown Stadium in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifer game against Burkina Faso.. Pic Keoagile Bonang

Foreign-based players Mogakolodi ‘Tsotso’ Ngele who turns out for South African Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns, Ofentse Nato of Indian outfit Atletico de Kolkata and Omaatla Kebatho who plays for South African First Division club, Vasco Da Gama were part of the training session. Nato and Kebatho joined their teammates on Monday night. A sizeable number of supporters attended the team’s morning training session.

The training, which lasted for nearly two hours was routine with few drills and exercises before the team engaged in a match practice.

Zebras welfare manager, Sakaeyo Jane said all the players were in good shape and raring to go. “We expect knocks here and there because they are part of football,” he said.

The Zebras held their second training session at the new Francistown Stadium later yesterday. The venue will host Saturday’s African Nations Cup qualifier against the Stallions.

Meanwhile, Eatametse Olopeng, a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) which is tasked with preparing for the game has shot down fears that the cheapest tickets for the match have been sold out. “On Monday it was discovered that there is a problem with the ticketing system,” he said. “We realised that the system was not releasing tickets worth P50 and P30. Instead, it only released mainly P100 tickets and in some instances those worth P30.”

Olopeng said his committee engaged the dealer, Shoprite computicket, appointed to sell tickets and the situation would be solved before the end of today (Tuesday).

By late Monday, only P100 tickets were available at Shoprite Computicket. This raised fears that tickets might have been sold out.

Yesterday morning, a group of supporters who wanted to buy tickets lined up in front of Shoprite supermarket before the stall opened.

As part of preparations, Olopeng said they have engaged Ipelegeng workers to clean the stadium. Olopeng said the LOC would release more details on the game during the week. It will be the first time the Zebras play a competitive match here.