Tunisia game will be a litmus test

DENNIS KEAGILE | Friday October 29, 2010 00:00

This request or move by Supersport on its own generates more excitement about the November 17 fixture but at the same time creates pressure for the team, especially head coach Stanley Tshosane.

I know that Tshosane has had pressure before as he has won many trophies with BDF XI. But this time, the stakes are just far too great. This is one fixture that can see some people fainting or dying if things go wrong. I know that the focus will largely be on the players but I would hazard a guess as to who will be counselling Tshosane and his players so that as the technical team, they do not buckle under pressure of expectations.

The fact that Tunisia managed to beat Togo in Lome has created some sense of self-belief among the North Africans that may be they can sniff out something from the Zebras. In fact I am reliably informed that Tunisia will be bringing a contingent of about 45 people including the president of its federation.

This just shows how serious the Tunisians are, which is why I believe Tshosane will need a lot of support and nothing should be left to chance. It is also given that a highly experienced referee will be needed for this counter but I am praying that our players will be strong enough not to fall prey to the monkey tricks of the Tunisians. Because it will be an all or nothing encounter, I foresee the two teams adopting a similar approach; that of throwing caution to the wind and relying on counter-attacks. However, the Zebras hold all the aces, hence the key element will be the mental state of the team. I, therefore, implore the Botswana Football Association (BFA) executive to have things in order long before the game. The decision whether the game goes to Lobatse or the UB stadium should be made now and all necessary logistics put in place.

The Tunisians ought to feel the pressure the moment they land. From a technical point of view, my worry is that the Zebras have played two teams in a row that are lowly ranked and while we might have comfortably beaten both Equatorial Guinea and Swaziland, I do not think that they gave us the much-needed exposure or challenge that we badly need  against the Carthage Eagles.

While the Zebras are currently ranked 79th in the FIFA world rankings, Equatorial Guinea are ranked 164th or somewhere thereabout and so is Swaziland. So naturally or logically it means that the Zebras need not struggle when playing against such teams. I would have preferred tougher opponents that could help expose our limitations. But at the end of it all, it will boil down to mental strength from the technical bench up to the players, including the supporters. And given the interest in the game, the BFA is likely to make a killing not only from gate-takings but also from television broadcasting rights as well.

he entrance of Supersport in the equation means that the stakes are high and Botswana Television (Btv) will have to come to the party. Indeed the BFA executive has a positive challenge to solve. Does it go for Btv, which usually pays out, between P50, 000 and P80, 000 or do they take  Supersport, which I think cannot pay anything less than P500, 000. The BFA executive ought not to be greedy though lest they chase away or squander this once off bargain.

Lobatse and National Stadium

While everybody is happy that the new Lobatse stadium is now open for public use, there is still concern that the ground is bumpy and was perhaps released prematurely hence more work or finishing touches needed. But it is disappointing that the opening of the National Stadium in Gaborone is still a matter of guess and it looks like there is no pressure being put on the contractor to finish off.

Just too many opportunities are being squandered and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture ought to shed light on the definite date the stadium will be completed, including that in Francistown, because once the rainy season comes, we will hear stories. The Minister (Shaw Kgathi) ought to  be tough on the contractors.