Zebras ready for Mambas

TSHEPO MOLWANE
Staff Writer | Friday July 25, 2008 00:00

 

Kick-off is at 5.30pm. Before departure to South Africa, the Zebras were confident that they will add more woes to the Mambas by sending them tumbling out of the tournament.

The last time Zebras and Mambas met was in the 2010 World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier at a packed Machava Stadium in Maputo last month. The Zebras ran away with a 2-1 win.

Addressing a press conference at Lekidi Centre in Gaborone yesterday, Zebras coach, Stanley Tshosane, said they are prepared for the challenge. 'The players have been responding well and am I impressed by their attitude. It is important to reach the semi-finals as this would give us the match practice that we need (for the World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers),' he said.

Since they returned from Ivory Coast where they were humiliated 4-0 in the qualifiers, the Zebras have been busy at training with Tshosane trying to come up with the right combinations. The Zebras mentor has called into camp a reserve side to be used to beef up the main squad. 'I cannot guarantee that all the new players will get a run against Mozambique, but all I can tell you is that all the players travelling have a chance to play,' Tshosane said. In his new look squad, Tshosane has drafted in Patrick Motsepe (BDF XI), Gobonyeone Selefa (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Abednico Powell (Extension Gunners) and Thobo 'Fish' Kgoboge (Nico United). It is expected that Kgoboge will help the Zebras in scoring goals, which has been a problem of late. Motsepe has the qualities to unlock any defence when the going gets tough. 

The addition of new players has seen veteran defenders, Khumo 'Shoes' Motlhabane and Ernest Amos, being dropped from the squad. Tshosane pointed out that the absence of the duo from the squad does not mean their international career is over. He said that if they improve, then chances are high that they will be called for the upcoming fixtures. Against Mozambique, the key men for the Zebras will be Malepa 'Chippa' Bolelang, Pontsho Moloi, Dirang Moloi, Mompati Thuma and goalkeeper Noah Maposa. Maposa is expected to play a huge role in the absence of Modiri Marumo who could not be released for the COSAFA games as they are not FIFA sanctioned. This is a chance for him to show his class at international level and prove he can take over from Marumo. Tshosane pleaded with the supporters to continue rallying behind the team saying that their support means a lot. 'We appreciate their support and want to inform them that there has been vast improvement in the team. We will continue to fight to get positive results for them,' he said.

Though they will not have some of their professional players, the Mambas will come with guns blazing to revenge the 2-1 defeat inflicted on them by the Zebras. Since the regional competition was introduced 11 years ago, the Zebras have met with the Mambas twice at the National Stadium in Gaborone. On both occasions, the Portuguese-speaking country ran away with victory. The first meeting was in January 1998 when Mozambique won 2-1 with Tshepiso 'Sox' Molwantwa scoring the only goal for the Zebras. The second meeting was in May 1999 and the Zebras lost 2-0.

The Mozambique coach knows that nothing less than victory will put his job in the balance. The Mambas are rated above the Zebras in the latest FIFA rankings. The following is the full list of players in the Zebras squad to face the Mambas on Sunday: Maposa (Chiefs), Raphael Nthwane (Flamengo Santos), Mompati Thuma (BDF XI), Ndiyapo Letsholathebe (Police XI), Michael Mogaladi (Chiefs), Keoagetse Radipotsane (Notwane), Dirang Moloi (Notwane), Tshepo Motlhabankwe (Chiefs), Nelson Gabolwelwe (BDF XI), Pontsho Moloi (Chiefs), Boitumelo Mafoko (Orlando Pirates), Selefa (Chiefs), Motsepe (BDF XI), Kgoboge (Nico United), Bolelang (ECCO City), Powell (Gunners), Mpho Mabogo (Chiefs) and Joel Mogorosi (Orlando Pirates).