Bright faces the chop
Mqondisi Dube | Friday November 23, 2018 12:38
The national team is winless in five Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with Bright in charge of four of the matches. Englishman, Peter Butler was in charge of the first match against Mauritania, which the Zebras lost 1-0 last year June.
Bright has seen the side lose three matches, and draw one against Burkina Faso. The Zebras abysmal run has yielded just one point and a goal, which has meant the road to Cameroon next year, has long ended.
Sources close to developments said the BFA will allow Bright to take charge of the Angola game next year, but that would be his last involvement.
“There is need to plan for the future, clearly we are not progressing at the expected rate. Someone has to come in and plan for the future.
The Africa Nations Championships are around the corner,” the source said.
In fact, the source indicated that the hunt for a new man is expected to begin earnest, with Orlando Pirates, coach, Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic still on BFA’s radar.
The BFA tried unsuccessful to lure the highly rated Sredojevic when Tebogo Sebego was in charge at Lekidi Centre. Butler was then hired after the failed ‘Micho’ chase.
The Serbian does not come cheap, and BFA might find the same stumbling block has not moved, in their latest attempts to bring him to Gaborone. Another option is former Zebras coach, Veselin Jelusic, who left lasting memories during his term, as he built a resilient side. Jelusic recently left South African side, Bloemfontein Celtic.
Bright might have upset his bosses at Lekidi Centre last month when he accused the BFA of failing to lend sufficient support to the national team.
On the eve of the Burkina Faso clash in Francistown, Bright did not hold back, and instead fired salvos at the BFA, which he accused of paying scant attention to the national team.
BFA reacted, saying Bright should have known the right place to channel his grievance. There was no further action, but the relationship was not helped when Bright’s charges slumped to another defeat to Mauritania on Sunday night.
BFA public relations and marketing officer, Tumo Mpatane said Bright was still the Zebras coach, refusing to divulge much about his future.
“There will be a review of the campaign as a whole. As for his future, we have a contract with the coach at the moment,” Mpatane said.
The Zebras stayed behind in Mauritania due to inclement weather in France, which meant their return was delayed.
They only touch down today, which has affected Township Rollers’ Mascom Top 8 clash against Black Forest as Popa has four players in the national team.