Zebras, Amabinneplas clash for Germiston

| Friday March 19, 2010 00:00

 

The South Africans were until late on Wednesday afternoon plotting and planning for the second leg match in a fortnight with CEO Leslie Sedibe but indications are that the second leg match will be staged at the Germiston Stadium.

It was not really a rag-tag group of players that invaded Gaborone last week, but deprived of most players due to national and club duties, Letsoaka took a group of hungry players who did the country proud under blazingly hot conditions in Botswana with Michael Nkambule playing a blinder as playmaker.

The Kaizer Chiefs' youngster hardly ever makes the bench at Naturena because he does not feature in the coach's plans, but under the guidance of Letsoaka, Nkambule, Bongani Thwala, Klaas Galane and Bridgett Motha mesmerised Batswana with their kasie style of soccer.

'There is an element of fun and business in the approach to the game by these boys,' said Letsoaka. 'I have always encouraged these boys and they did a marvellous job in Botswana and even though I do not want to single out individual players, others like Galane, Nkambule and Motha were really outstanding.'

And one has to also credit both Thapelo Tshilo of Jomo Cosmos who captained the side as well as Warren Bishop who never put a foot wrong in front of goalkeeper Siya Mngoma with some solid and uncompromising performances as twin central defenders.

However, Letsoaka expects to lose some players prior to the second leg match and is anticipating that perhaps half the players that accompanied him to Gaborone last week might not be available for the second leg match.

'I am not going to stress over the issue,' said Letsoaka. 'I am aware that some clubs will not make their players available and so we have a contingency plan because I anticipate half the team to change for the second leg match.'

Botswana meanwhile departs from Gaborone on Thursday (yesterday) on their way to Windhoek where they will play against Namibia in that country's Independence celebrations on Friday.

'Failing to beat a weakened South African team in the first leg was a bit embarrassing,' said a top football writer in Gaborone. 'I think now the pressure will intensify but now the Zebras will have to take a leaf out of the book of Gaborone United who were held to a goalless draw by Orlando Pirates but turned the tables in Port Elizabeth.'

The winner of this match will meet Zambia in a two-legged qualifier from which the eventual winner qualifies for the second edition of the African Nations Championship to be staged in Sudan next January. (Supersport)