The strengths and weaknesses in Zebras' squad

| Friday February 5, 2010 00:00

Goalkeepers

There has been consistency in selection in this department which remains the best in the team. Kabelo Dambe is without doubt one of the best custodians at the moment judging by his heroics at Township Rollers this season. The young lad from Kanye has hardly put a foot wrong. Botlhe Moralo has also been very good though there are doubts over Mogoditshane Fighters' Michael Pepukani. One wonders how many times have coach Tshosane watched the custodian in action to believe that he is a good choice. Only time will tell. When the Zebras played China, the department let the team down when Tshosane selected Barolong Lemmenyane ahead of Moralo. Hopefully, the technical team will make wise decisions during match days.

Dambe (Rollers), Moralo (Notwane) and Pepukani (Fighters)

Rating: 7/10

DefendersThe Zebras' rearguard has been very good and the new faces will have to measure up. Credit has to go to the coach for including the likes of Edwin Olerile (Rollers), Gaopatwe Seosenyeng (BDF XI) and Keabetswe Jenamiso in the team as they deserve to be given a run in the national colours. The presence of Mompati Thuma is a blessing in a wholly new side because his experience would come handy. But the selection of former Miscellaneous' defender, Isaac Paeye raises questions. So far he is an unknown quantity. This is the chance for him to prove doubters wrong and make history. Thuma, Seosenyeng (both BDF XI), Musa Ohilwe (BMC), Michael Mogaladi (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Jenamiso, Ontse Ntesa (both ECCO City), Olerile (Rollers), Paeye and Moreetsi Mosimanyana (both Notwane).

Rating: 6/10

MidfieldersThe exclusion of Mochudi Centre Chiefs' evergreen midfielder Dirang Moloi, Township Rollers' Edwin Moalosi and Keoagetse Radipotsane from Notwane who have been in fine form is a puzzle but maybe the coach has a reason. Another surprise omission is Uniao Flamengo Santos' Godfrey Ngele (Tsotso' elder brother) who has been the pillar of strength at his club. If the coach picked the players basing on current form, then Ngele ought to have been given a chance. But credit has to go to the coach for heeding the nation's call to include Jabu Pilane in the squad because he has been consistent over the years. The player now gets the long-awaited chance to prove to the football community that his previous exclusion was a big mistake. Without doubt, Tshosane got it right by calling Sekhana Koko to the 22-man squad. The speedy attacking midfielder has been phenomenal this season and is the reason Chiefs are contesting for the league title. Police XI's Betsho Pius has not reached his full potential this season and surely he is a surprise call in this department.

Pius (Police XI), Ofentse Nato (Gaborone United), Pilane, Koko, Jomo Moatlhaping (all Chiefs) and Patrick Motsepe (BDF XI).

Rating: 6/10

StrikersZebras have struggled to score goals in recent times and things do not look promising given the choices Tshosane has made in this department. The four strikers in the current squad have a very low scoring rate and the combined total has not reached 25 in the be MOBILE Premier League. It remains a mystery why Tshosane has selected Onalethata Tshekiso as he has been struggling to get game time at Rollers. Tshekiso has been subjected to criticism for missing scoring chances and why he is in the squad and not the deadly Mogakolodi 'Tsotso' Ngele of Uniao Flamengo Santos' is a big puzzle only Tshosane can unravel.

Mokgathi Mokgathi (BDF XI), Malepa Bolelang (ECCO City), Onalethata Tshekiso and Aubrey Kebonnetse (both Rollers)

Rating: 4/10Tshosane has to regain the confidence of the football community in Botswana and these are some of the games that can help him in the mission. It is disappointing that when the Zebras play, fans fail to fill the UB Stadium to capacity while local giants Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers have proven that the stadium is small for their games. In the past, the Zebras were too big for the university stadium because of the huge number of spectators but this is no longer the case. Something surely is wrong and it is only Tshosane and his technical team who can rectify this.