Funds limit Zebras� preparations
Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday September 27, 2016 18:00
Zebras coach, Peter Butler has called up locally-based players, omitting those based outside the country due to budgetary constraints.
“We have called up a squad of 20 local players as there was no budget for foreign-based players.
The likes of (Onkabetse) Mankgantai, and (Lebogang Ditsile) Tolly are not coming,” Butler said yesterday.
He said there would be omissions due to injuries, with no replacements, meaning the team will be depleted for the country’s 50th Independence celebrations.
Butler wanted to run the camp until the end of the FIFA window on October 11, 2016, but financial constraints meant this would not be possible.
But the squad looks formidable on paper with Township Rollers providing the bulk of the players in the form of experienced campaigners; Kabelo Dambe, Mwampule Masule, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Bogosi Kaekwe, Lemponye Tshireletso and skipper, Joel Mogorosi.
Angola were chosen after Zebras’ preferred opponents, Nigeria, proved too costly. The budget for the match, organised by BOT50, is P1 million, while it would have cost P2.5 million to bring in Nigeria, while regional countries, including Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, either declined or did not respond.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Kabelo Dambe, Mwampule Masule (both Township Rollers), Mosimanegape Robert (Orapa United)
Defenders: Mosha Gaolaolwe, Bogosi Kaekwe (Rollers), Boitumelo Mafoko, Tebogo Sosome, Tebogo Sosome (both Jwaneng Galaxy), Keolopile Molemi (BDF XI), Lesenya Ramoraka (Orapa United), Thato Kebue (Mochudi Centre Chiefs)
Midfielders: Letlhogonolo Senwelo, Tapiwa Gadibolae (Police XI), Lesego Galenamotlhale (Chiefs), Thero Setsile (Galaxy), Lemponye Tshireletso (Rollers), Lemogang Maswena (Orapa), Kabelo Seakanyeng (Gaborone United)
Strikers: Thabang Sesinyi (Galaxy), Joel Mogorosi (Rollers) Hendrik Moyo (GU)