The pilots have changed and it is a totally new set of personnel but only two figures remain from the 2012 AFCON squad. Pontsho ‘Piro’ Moloi, currently serving as assistant coach alongside goalkeeper, Kabelo Dambe, are the only surviving members. This week, the Zebras secured a berth at the continental showpiece for only the second time in the country's history. Ahead of the trip to Morocco next year, Piro is set to be the only Motswana to make it to the AFCON finals as a player and a coach.
The Gaborone United (GU) mentor is tipped to keep his place in the Zebras’ technical team as the Botswana Football Association (BFA) leans towards appointing Morena Ramoreboli on a permanent basis. Moloi had just celebrated his 30th birthday when he was named to the 2012 AFCON squad in the summer of 2011. He was then a flamboyant winger and team captain of a trailblazing Mochudi Centre Chiefs side. The then cornrow-hair-styled forward was at the peak of his career and was one of the hottest wingers in the league. His side, Chiefs were at the time, chasing only their second league championship and proving to be a substantive rival to the then-dominant, Township Rollers. Despite being one of the leading goal scorers in the league then, Moloi was not regarded as a starter in Stan Tshosane’s history-making Zebras team. ‘Piro’ did not play a part in Zebras' opener against Ghana that ended in a 1-0 loss.
