Pressure on coaches as season blasts into life
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 22, 2017 15:08
Rodolfo Zapata (Gaborone United)
The Argentine who arrived in January last year is yet to taste success with the Money Machine. He is set for a make or break season with the club. Zapata showed his intentions early on as he finished his shopping early into the transfer window.
Nikola Kavazovic (Township Rollers)
The Serb joined the league champions after spending most of his coaching career in Asia. His abilities will be enhanced if he gifts the Popa faithful their third consecutive league title.
Innocent Morapedi & Pontsho Moloi (Mochudi Centre Chiefs)
The duo was Bongani Mafu’s deputies in the last season. With Mafu still at loggerheads with the club over owed salaries, Morapedi and former captain, Moloi are faced with a mammoth task of bringing back the glory days to the Kgatleng giants.
Madinda Ndlovu (Orapa United)
He is arguably the most successful coach in Botswana. Ndlovu has won the league title a record three times. He, however did not have the best of seasons in the last campaign as he finished without a title. The Zimbabwean is expected to land the Ostriches their first league title in his third year at the club.
Mike Sithole (Jwaneng Galaxy)
He has been at every top club and won every cup on offer. Dubula joined Galaxy in the past season where he won the Mascom Top 8 competition. The Zambian tactician’s eyes will be set on the league title that will be his first at the club.
Letang ‘Rasta’ Kgengwenyane (BDF XI)
Rasta returns to the cub he left five years ago. He had built a disciplined side that showed glimpses of greatness. Rasta returns to finish the job he started in 2012.
Isaiah Sthandwa Mogwadi (Police XI)
It has been 11 years since Mogwadi brought the Cops their first league.
He returned to the club mid last season and is reconstructing the project he built years back. His team is not expected to win the league, which lifts the pressure on him as he builds towards the future.
Itumeleng Duicker (Extension Gunners)
Tumie was off to a blistering start at Gunners last season. He guided the sleeping giants to a fourth spot last season, their highest in many years. Duicker’s task could be a lot harder this season as the club opted for young talent.
Blessing Moyo (Uniao Flamingo Santos)
Moyo’s task will be to avoid relegation. The club does not have the finical muscle to compete in the league. He has settled in at the club and ready to kick off.
Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul (Sharps Shooting Stars)
Paul’s side looked impressive during pre-season. Pio’s stay in the league was cut short in 2015. He will be eager to prove the doubting Thomases wrong with the newly-promoted Sharps.
Philani Mabhena (Sankoyo Bush Bucks)
Mabhena returned to Ngurungu after two years at Galaxy. He will solemnly be focussed on improving the team, as the financial problems that affected his project seem to be a thing of the past.
Maxwell Moyo (TAFIC)
Malume is one of the most experienced coaches in the league. He has shown he has the mantle to change a ‘small’ team into competitive one as he did with Orapa United in 2015. He looks like the man to turn things around for TAFIC as they return to the elite league.
Daniel Nare (Miscellaneous)
Chico moved to the north after Gunners’ exit. He has shown that he works well under less pressure as he did with BMC some few seasons back. He however, never tasted the league title as a coach and will be looking to change things around at a team that hit a slump last season.
Thaloba Nthaga (Security Systems)
All eyes will be on Nthaga to continue the great form the club showed last season. His team was a surprise package as they finished in the top eight in their maiden season in the top flight.
Paradzayi Madivenga (Gilport Lions)
He is one of the youngest coaches in the country. He also has the youngest squad competing in the elite league.
The tactician relies heavily on young talent and will be looking to break into the top eight, something he failed to do in the last two seasons.
Reetsang Letlole (Black Forest)
Letlole served as Rapelang Tsatsilebe’s assistant in the last season.
He will hold fort until a new coach arrives mid next month. Letlole’s task will be to guide the club and guard against losing points as the team looks to improve from last season’s ninth spot.