Gaborone United assistant coach Pontsho Moloi is reportedly a top target of the Botswana Football Association (BFA) to lead the national under 23 side in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Under 23 qualifiers.
Botswana was drawn to play against Eswatini in the preliminary stage of the tournament in a two legged tie which set to take place between the weekends of 19th and 27th September, 2022.
The team has not been active since 2019 after losing to Tanzania in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers under the guidance of the current national team senior team interim coach Mogomotsi Mpote.
Mpote currently taking care of the national team on interim basis and also club football assignment at Orapa United, with this in mind, reports have emerged that the BFA hierarchy are contemplating to rope in Moloi for the post of under 23 head coach.
Inside information from within Lekidi headquarters suggest that, Moloi has already been contacted by the association and an announcement could be made before this weekend.
His immediate task will be to come up with a list of players that he will be interested to work with and also draft a list of his preferred technical support staff.
Contacted for comment on the preparations of the upcoming tie, the BFA Chief Executive Officer Mfolo Edwin Mfolo told this publication that, Mpote is the current Under 23 coach but an assessment by the associations’ technical department is underway to decide whether Mpote will be in charge or a new face will be brought through to lead the team.
“The team is expected to come for camp next week, after the Zebras assignment against Madagascar. We have been drawn against Eswatini in a home and away fixture, so we expect the team to resume their camp on the 1st of September,” Mfolo responded.
Probed more on who will be in charge of the team, Mfolo stated that, “Mpote is the head coach of the Under 23, but I’m not yet privy on whether he will continue with the team or the technical team will come up with new names, he has been heavily engaged, he has not had a break but everything is up to the technical office to decide”.
The BFA had previously expressed interest in the services of Moloi as he was cajoled to form part of the team which competed at this year’s COSAFA Cup finals as the 2nd assistant to Mogomotsi Mpote and Junior Letlamoreng of Police XI.
He however could not join up with the team due to other commitments and was replaced by the then Masitaoka head coach Michael Mogaladi in the team.
Moloi who recently acquired his CAF B license certificate in Zambia, will be keen to accept the proposal of the association once official contacts are made according to those close to the developments.
He also was an integral figure in leading Gaborone United to their first league title in 13 years.
Moloi has played for the national under 23 team in the early 2000 which included amongst others Ndiyapo Letsholathebe, Tiroyaone “TRX” Mohambi, Michael Mogaladi and Tshepo “Talk Talk” Motlhabankwe.
Botswana was drawn to play against Eswatini in the preliminary stage of the tournament in a two legged tie which set to take place between the weekends of 19th and 27th September, 2022.
The team has not been active since 2019 after losing to Tanzania in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers under the guidance of the current national team senior team interim coach Mogomotsi Mpote.
Mpote currently taking care of the national team on interim basis and also club football assignment at Orapa United, with this in mind, reports have emerged that the BFA hierarchy are contemplating to rope in Moloi for the post of under 23 head coach.
Inside information from within Lekidi headquarters suggest that, Moloi has already been contacted by the association and an announcement could be made before this weekend.
His immediate task will be to come up with a list of players that he will be interested to work with and also draft a list of his preferred technical support staff.
Contacted for comment on the preparations of the upcoming tie, the BFA Chief Executive Officer Mfolo Edwin Mfolo told this publication that, Mpote is the current Under 23 coach but an assessment by the associations’ technical department is underway to decide whether Mpote will be in charge or a new face will be brought through to lead the team.
“The team is expected to come for camp next week, after the Zebras assignment against Madagascar. We have been drawn against Eswatini in a home and away fixture, so we expect the team to resume their camp on the 1st of September,” Mfolo responded.
Probed more on who will be in charge of the team, Mfolo stated that, “Mpote is the head coach of the Under 23, but I’m not yet privy on whether he will continue with the team or the technical team will come up with new names, he has been heavily engaged, he has not had a break but everything is up to the technical office to decide”.
The BFA had previously expressed interest in the services of Moloi as he was cajoled to form part of the team which competed at this year’s COSAFA Cup finals as the 2nd assistant to Mogomotsi Mpote and Junior Letlamoreng of Police XI.
He however could not join up with the team due to other commitments and was replaced by the then Masitaoka head coach Michael Mogaladi in the team.
Moloi who recently acquired his CAF B license certificate in Zambia, will be keen to accept the proposal of the association once official contacts are made according to those close to the developments.
He also was an integral figure in leading Gaborone United to their first league title in 13 years.
Moloi has played for the national under 23 team in the early 2000 which included amongst others Ndiyapo Letsholathebe, Tiroyaone “TRX” Mohambi, Michael Mogaladi and Tshepo “Talk Talk” Motlhabankwe.
