Zebras return to sanity
Zebras headcoach Major David Bright seems to have returned the national team to sanity. Most local football supporters will at least agree with his way of doing things compared to his predecessor. Perhaps the most decorated football coach to ever come out of Botswana, Bright has a rather conservative approach to football with his recent national team selection as a case in point.
By all means the new look Zebras sticks to the old adage of mixing the new with the old or youth and experience. The Zebras play Gabon in a FIFA sanctioned friendly game next week Tuesday and Fakuda has selected some of the best players the local league has to offer with most of them coming from the indomitable Township Rollers. Bight’s selection however seem to be a far cry from how his predecessor Peter Butler used to go about things. Butler was a polarising figure at the helm of the Zebras and his national team selection further divided opinion.
Under hugely experimental Butler, the Zebras brought home mixed results. Butler received fierce criticism due to his philosophy of introducing several new faces into the Zebras fold. The Englishman’s excessive experimentation at the helm of Zebras backfired as he failed to bring home results including Afcon qualifiers. Perhaps his magnum opus was making it to the finals of the COSAFA Castle cup. For Major Bright a tried and tested formula works better.
Taking chances or relatively unknown players is not an option. However, the former Under 23 headcoach is relatively new at the helm of the national team and the game against African giants Gabon will be a stiff test. Bright and his charges will be coming into the game as clear underdogs and an upset against the West African giants and former Afcon holds will restore pride in the national team. For Bright it was a no brainer to pick most of his players from the 2017/18 BTC premiership log leaders.
Rollers are currently enjoying their best ever form in recent history having gone seven games without a loss. Rollers players dominate the defence in Bright’s 26 men squad. Between the posts is Popa’s safe hands Kabelo Dambe and Mwampule Masule. Zebras supporters will be happy to know that dependable left winger Edwin Olerile is making his return to the national team. Rollers’ captain Maano Ditshupo and the sensational Segolame Boy.
Perhaps one of the most exciting player from Popa is the on form midfielder Edwin Olerile. Bright has also look to Gaborone United to boost the Zebras’ fortunes in the international friendly. GU’s sensational striker Tumisang Orebonye will come in handy when Bright launches an offensive against Gabon. Another striker from GU is Boipelo Oaitse. The presence to veteran striker Jerome ‘JJ ‘Ramatlhakwane is likely to boost the confidence of the younger players. The new look Zebras also boasts on an eclectic midfield including players from BDF XI, Police XI, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Baroka FC (Mpho Kgaswane), Orapa United, Jwaneng Galaxy and Platinum Stars (Thabang Sesinyi)
