The trips to the Tunisian capital, Tunis are increasingly becoming frequent with the Zebras regularly drawn against their North African irritants. The results have been one-sided, with the Zebras only managing two wins in eight encounters with Tunisia since 2004. But on July, 1 2010, Tshosane cluttered into the script and tore it into shreds as the Zebras recorded a famous 1-0 win in enemy territory. This became the catalyst to Botswana’s first ever qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012. That remains Botswana’s shining moment in football as successive coaches have failed to replicate the feat.
On Thursday, the Zebras were in familiar Tunis territory and appeared to re-live the famous 2010 moment for larger parts of the game. But pinned back for larger periods, something had to give as Zebras coach, Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote employed an ultra-defensive strategy which seemed to completely negate the attacking component. It is inevitable that Mpote will be subjected to comparison with the great Tshosane who remains the only coach to have taken the Zebras to the AFCON finals. Nothing malicious about that as history potentially shapes the present and the future.
