Tshosane praises gallant Zebras

FREDERICK KEBADIRETSE
Staff Writer | Thursday June 6, 2013 00:00

 

Tshosane told Mmegi Sport upon arrival at the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) yesterday that the team defied all the odds to pull a draw against a strong Pharaohs side. 'They played very well and deserve to be congratulated. After what happened prior to our departure no one anticipated that performance. All departments looked strong, the goalkeeper (Dambe) was excellent, the defence looked solid throughout the game, the midfield linked well with the rest of the team and even upfront we were sharp,' he said.

The Zebras entered the match at the Air Force Stadium without even a single practice session after leaving the country late on Monday after a 24-hour delay following an impasse over allowances.Tshosane said even the Egyptians were full of praise for the Zebras' performance hailing them for giving them a good practice ahead of their weekend clash against Zimbabwe. He said he expects better results and it is now a challenge for all the stakeholders involved to make sure that the team maintains the momentum.

Asked on how the Monday impasse affected his preparations, the coach said during his four-year tenure in the team, he has instilled in his players that they should always  put the country first, no matter the circumstances.Tshosane said he only hopes there will be no similar standoffs ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, as the team needs to stay focused. He said they now only have two days to make a few adjustments before playing the Ethiopians.

He explained that he pulled out Joel Mogorosi and Jerome Ramatlhakwane after half time as they had minor knocks and did not want to take chances, as he needs a full strength squad for the Ethiopia and Central African Republic (CAR) ties. Ramatlhakwane had put Zebras ahead five minutes into the game following a defensive blunder by Egypt, but Fiorentina defender Ahmed Hegazy levelled matters for the home side seven minutes before halftime.

For a change, Botswana did not play an ultra-defensive match, launching attacks whenever possible. Tshosane started the game with the Gaborone United (GU) midfield duo of Alphonse Modisaotsile and Jackie Mothatego with Mogakolodi Ngele playing as a second striker, culminating into a formidable attacking force.He said he wanted to give many players in the team a chance, as he would need a strong pool of players for the qualifiers. Tshosane praised striker Tebogo Sembowa who came in as a second half substitute, saying he is a very good player and needs to be given some time and that he would soon be 'banging in goals for the national team'.

Also praised was Namibian based left fullback Pako Lekgari. Tshosane said he had fitted well into the team in a very short time. He was substituted as he had some breathing problems on the night. The coach also said he was impressed with returnee Dirang Moloi who had been absent from the squad for a long time.  'He is showing a lot of commitment and he is working hard, I like that,' he said.