BFA Confirms Tshosane As Zebras' Coach

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Monday November 9, 2009 00:00

 

BFA president, David Fani made the announcement through a media statement on Saturday. Tshosane has been Zebras' caretaker coach since last year after succeeding Briton Colwyn Rowe.

Fani said Tshosane would remain at the post for the next two and half years commencing November 1. He said Tshosane was the preferred candidate with suitable qualifications and experience from a group of seven other applicants.

'Tshosane was selected following a search that started in June 2009 and was found suitable in terms of qualifications and experience from a group of seven candidates who applied for the position from within and outside Botswana,' Fani said.

He said Tshosane will be responsible for selecting players for the national team and providing coaching services to the side to prepare it for competitive and friendly matches.

'He will work with a technical team whose composition will be disclosed at a later date,' Fani said.

The BFA will arrange a media conference this week to formally introduce the coach to the media. The appointment of Tshosane comes at a time when there were calls for his axing. His critics argue that the Zebras have not made strides under the former BDF XI coach.

Tshosane recently took the Zebras to the quarterfinals of the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Zimbabwe. The Zebras played to a 0-0 draw against Comoros, rated the third worst team in the world, before victories over minnows Swaziland and Seychelles gave them a quarterfinal berth. It was in the game against the hosts, Zimbabwe in which his critics questioned Tshosane's tactical acumen.

The Zebras defended for much of the match, eventually succumbing to an 88th minute goal. There was a feeling that the coach should have gone for the jugular and unleashed an attack-minded team as Zimbabwe showed signs of cracking.

Talented midfielder, Dirang Moloi, who was named man-of-the-match in the game against Seychelles, was surprisingly relegated to the bench for the Zimbabwe match. An out of sorts Onalethata Tshekiso was left on the pitch for too long and he never troubled the Zimbabwe defence.

Prior to the COSAFA Cup wins, the Zebras had gone on a lengthy period without victory since the 1-0 defeat to Mozambique in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Zebras have been posting unconvincing results in friendly matches including a 0-0 draw against New Zealand and a 1-1 stalemate against Iraq. This was followed by a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of China in a match that was marred by match-fixing allegations.