Timely boost for Zebras

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Wednesday July 7, 2010 00:00

 

Orange Public Relations Manager, Karabo Tlhabiwe said the luxury coach would help ease the national team's travel costs. He said the handover of a bus was testimony of their strong bond with the BFA. 'If we work together, we will achieve more,' Tlhabiwe said.

Meanwhile, BFA president, David Fani said the Zebras have been forced to play their match against Chad on Friday at 3pm as the UB Stadium floodlights do not meet FIFA and CAF standards. He said the UB Stadium is the only suitable venue as the National and the Lobatse Stadiums are incomplete. The National Stadium has been undergoing renovations for the past two years and work is behind schedule amid growing concerns that the facility's turf might have to be re-laid. There are reports that the stadium's drainage system is poor and the solution lies with re-laying the surface.

The new Lobatse Stadium, scheduled for completion last month after several deadline misses, was expected to be officially opened yesterday but it is still incomplete.

'UB (Stadium) was the only venue. The stadium's floodlights do not meet CAF and FIFA requirements that is why we could not play in the evening. Consequently, the game will be played during working hours,' Fani said.

He said the Zebras stand a good chance of qualifying for the 2012 AFCON after a dream start in which they beat Tunisia 1-0 last Thursday.

Zebras' coach, Stanley Tshosane said the Tunisian game is now water under the bridge and their focus is on Chad.

He said preparations for the Chad game on Friday started on Monday and the national team will play the Young Zebras in Molepolole this afternoon.

Tshosane, who has found himself at the end of stinging criticism from the local media, said he does not have sufficient information about Chad.

'We do not have sufficient information about Chad but the little that we have should help us achieve our goal. Our target is to reach the finals,' Tshosane said.

He added that he has been working on the team to guard against complacency after the Tunisia result