Dream Team confident ahead of Malawi clash
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday November 16, 2018 12:51
The team will host Malawi at the Lobatse Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon in the first leg of the preliminary round of qualifiers.
Football fans and pundits alike have expressed high hopes on the side that is rich in talent.
Some of the players are currently plying their trade in the elite league.
The team’s interim coach, Letang ‘Rasta’ Kgengwenyane also expressed confidence in his squad and said they aim for a maiden AFCON berth, which will put the side in contention for the 2020 Olympics qualification.
“The preparations have been going well thus far and looking at the talent we have at our proposal, we will want to emulate the (2012) Zebras (team) and qualify for the AFCON for the first time,” he said.
“We will have to fight for the Olympic qualification.
We will only accept failure when we reach the AFCON finals; that is the minimum point we should reach. We should reach the Olympics for the first time, that is how ready we are.”
Kgengwenyane holds fort for Mogomotsi Mpote, who is currently part of the CAF A licence course being held in Jwaneng.
He, in a rather unusual scenario applauded the Botswana Football Association (BFA) for availing the resources for the preparation of the side.
“Everything has gone and it’s still going smooth thus far. We have all the resources at our disposal,” Kgengwenyane said after the team’s training on Wednesday morning.
“We assembled our camp on Sunday and started training on Monday, but we had overloaded the players in our previous camp so we are just doing the final touches. We will be playing a friendly game this (Wednesday) afternoon, then we would be fine.”
Rasta has called up a squad of 20 players who are both used as regulars and sparingly by the Premier league teams, including Township Rollers’ illustrious midfielders Kago Monyake and Mothusi Cooper and Sharps Shooting Stars’ striker Tshepo Malgas. Malgas is expected to lead the team’s attack.
He is amongst the leading top goal scorers with five goals.
However, Kgengwenyane is aware of the threat posed by the Young Flames who called a key number of the Malawi senior side regulars.
“I have done my research on the team, they have been in camp for three weeks now. They have called eight players who are part of the senior side. The team’s first choice goalkeeper is also the senior side first choice so they can be a threat any day,” he said. The Dream Team will play the return leg on Wednesday, November 20. The winner of the two-legged clash will face Zambia. Kick off is at 4pm.
The Squad:
Goalkeeper: Kabelo Maphakela (Rollers), Thabo Motswagole (BDF XI), Thomas Manyelela (Gunners)
Defenders: Alphord Velaphi, Goitseone Legopelo (both GU), Mothusi Johnson (Orapa United), Thato Kebue (Galaxy), Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Rollers), Keabetswe Obonetse (BR Highlanders)
Midfielders: Gape Mohutsiwa, Mothusi Cooper, Kago Monyake (all Rollers), Gape Gaogangwe (Galaxy), Mpho Kgomo (Police XI), Brian Makanku (Gunners), Tiroyaone Maome (Prisons XI)
Attackers: Kitso Mpuisang (Prisons XI), Molaodi Tlhalefang (Orapa United), Resaobaka Thatanyane (Galaxy), Tshepo Malgas (Sharps)