Score Line Was Flattering � Butler
Mqondisi Dube | Monday March 27, 2017 15:48
Goals either side of the half from Tanzania’s Mbana Samatta condemned the battling Zebras to a defeat. But Butler refused to be downbeat after the Dar es Salam reversal. He said after a sloppy start, his charges picked the tempo as the game progressed with the visitors shaving the woodwork and creating other gilt edged opportunities.
The home side enjoyed more off the ball in the opening half with 55% of the possession with five shots at goal, two of those on target while the Zebras managed two, with one on target.
“The score line was not a true reflection of the amount of possession we had. After six months of no international activity, I expected us to be rusty. However, we played very good football and controlled the game for long periods” Butler told Monitor Sport yesterday.
He said the team was off to the worst possible start conceding what he described as a sloppy goal. The coach was disappointed with the manner in which his team conceded.
“....but we grew back into the game and put their goal under great pressure, hitting the bar and missing many chances,” Butler said.
He was forced into an early substitution when defender, Kaone van der Westhuizen fell awkwardly and Thero Setsile took his place.
“......changed the system from three at the back to a back four as we wanted to try other players and chase the game. We dominated the second half with (Kabelo) Seakanyeng, (Thero) Setsile and (Onkabetse) Makgantai making a big impact. The missed chances cost us but our general football was good in scorching temperatures. The 2-0 score line was a false impression of the game,” he said.
Butler used six substitutes and said he was pleased that‚“we are back playing international football.”
The Zebras are preparing for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers where they are in the same group as Burkina Faso, Angola and Mauritius.
The starting line-ups:
Tanzania: Aishi Manula, Mohammed Hussain, Abdi Banda, Erasto Nyoni, Shomare Kapombe, Frank Domao, Himid Mao, Shiza Kichuya, Simon Msuva, Ibrahim Ajibu, Mbana Samatta
Botswana: Kabelo Dambe, Tapiwa Gadibolae, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Ofentse Nato, Kaone van der Westhuizen, Lesenya Ramoraka, Lesego Galenamotlhale, Lebogang Ditsele, Omaatla Kebatho, Thabang Sesinyi, Mogakolodi Ngele
Tanzania 2 (Samatta 12th, 88th)
Zebras 0