Mpote goes all out for COSAFA glory
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday May 31, 2019 20:22
However, Mpote is unfazed by the task ahead as he said his youthful side will overcome the hurdle.
“We have done the experiment part, we are not going there to experiment. We are going there to win the cup. We cannot be training players to lose, we train players to beat other teams, to win and that’s what we are going to do. We have been preparing well starting with the game against Angola and with the same youthful squad we played Seychelles twice. I think it was a good preparation; the boys did not have experience, but played well in three tough games.
This is why I say we are ready for this tournament. “The difference would be our mental strength, we should have a mentality that South Africa should not dominate us and in the games we have played, our players have developed to a level that we want them to be,” Mpote said after a training session at Lekidi on Tuesday. Teenage faced backlash from the fans and pundits alike after leaving out some key players including all the foreign-based players while in-form Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Ofentse Nato were also omitted.
However, the soft-spoken tactician said he is looking to the future hence the reason for selecting a youthful squad. “We have tried to mix the young boys with experienced players. So we are trying to build a better team that will compete. We look at the COSAFA (cup) as a development tournament, hence I want to give young players a chance,” he said.
Mpote has been in charge for three games, losing once and winning the other two. The team has scored five times, conceding only twice.
“We have three or four players that are in the bracket of top goal scorers, scoring week in and week out. It is not like we do not have strikers but the problem has been the application, but if we give them the right format or pattern to get in the final third they will score many goals. This is the area that has not been doing well in the team,” he added. Veteran striker, Joel Mogorosi will captain the side once again while club teammate, Mosha Gaolaolwe, will serve as his assistant.
The Zebras will face a Bafana that is made of mostly Under-23s and will be under the tutelage of assistant coach, Molefi Ntsiki and David Notoane.
The Zebras have won just once against Bafana in 2006 after a penalty shootout. The two teams met in the final in 2017 and the plate final last year and on both occasions Bafana came out as victors.
The travelling squad:
Goalkeepers: Ezekiel Morake (Galaxy), Lesenya Malapela (Orapa), Lesego Bosekeng (Police XI)
Defenders: Thabo Leinanyane, Fortunate Thulare (both Galaxy), Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Mosha Gaolaolwe (both Rollers), Mothusi Johnson (Orapa), Oabile Makopo (Gunners)
Midfielders: Gape Mohutsiwa, Segolame Boy, Mothusi Cooper (all Rollers), Gilbert Baruti, Lebogang Ditsele, Thero Setsile (all Galaxy), Keeagile Kobe (BDF XI), Thatayaone Ramatlapeng (Security Systems)
Strikers: Joel Mogorosi, Tumisang Orebonye (both Rollers)