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Botswana: Have Local Strikers Come of Age?
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
2 April 2008
Posted to the web 2 April 2008
Boitumelo Khutsafalo
While foreign strikers dominate most leagues in the world, Botswana has buckled the trend in recent years. Local strikers are increasingly asserting their authority in the Mascom Premier League, relegating their fancied foreign counterparts to fight for minor placings.
But is this a sign that the league is not attracting top foreign strikers? Though there are still good foreign strikers around like Police XI's Richard Mwaanza, Township Rollers' Bernard Semakwezi, Mochudi Centre Chiefs' Nicholas Gora, Gaborone United (GU)'s Sageby Sandaka, it seems gone are the days when they monopolised the goal-scoring charts.
When Police XI won the league in two seasons ago, Malepa 'Chippa' Bolelang of ECCO City Greens was the top striker. The following season, he was toppled by another local Pontsho Moloi of Chiefs. And though Terrence Mandaza and Derrick Bandibanga are still in the chase for this season's golden boot, local Jerome Ramatlhakwana of Chiefs looks likely to walk away with it.
In the past, foreign players were the most feared in the country. The likes of Joseph Chikoti and Zacharia Muzadzi drove fear in the hearts of opponents as they led their clubs to win titles.
But it seems that the tables are turning and locals are staking their claim. Chiefs is about to re-write history by winning the league undefeated with four of its local players chasing the golden boot award. These are Ramatlhakwana, Moloi, Mpho 'Jomo' Mabogo and Oteng Moalosi.
Only three foreign strikers, Mandaza, Bandibanga and TAFIC's Sizalubuthe Dube are in the list of the top eight marksmen in the league. Ramatlhakwana is currently leading the pack with 17 goals. Boteti Young Fighters' Bandibanga is second with 12. Notwane midfielder, Keoagetse 'Barnes' Radipotsane is tied in fourth with Extension Gunners' striker, Tiroyamodimo Mohambi with 11 goals each. They are trailed by Terrence Mandaza with nine goals. GU's Kenny Ledikwe and David Makakaba of Police XI are some of the local players chasing the golden boot.
As Botswana strikers dominate the Mascom Premier League, local strikers in other countries are playing second fiddle to foreigners. In England, Portuguese sensation, Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United is setting the pace followed by Spain's deadly striker, Fernando Torres of Liverpool and Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor of Arsenal. In Spain, Brazilian striker, Luis Fabiano tops the charts.
In the South African Premier League, Zambian striker, James Chamanga is leading the pack. It is only in France and Italy where a local striker is perched at the top of the scoring table. Marco Borriello and Karim Benzema are creating waves in Italy and France respectively. Perhaps this is an indication of why France and Italy met in the final of the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.
Though the Botswana league still attracts foreign strikers, the question is whether they are struggling to find their feet these days or their local counterparts have come of age.
BFA official, Philemon Makhwengwe says that it is not that the local league is not attracting good foreign strikers. He says that unlike before, Botswana has intensified its development structures.
"Unlike in the past, we groom these players at a very young age so that they are used to competition while they are still young," he says. Makhwengwe adds that the youth structures have helped the local players to match the foreign ones. He cited Chiefs' exciting striker, Moloi as well as Mabogo as some of the local strikers who played for almost all the junior teams.
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The strikers are currently some of the most feared around. Rollers' Moemedi Moatlhaping is another striker who has played for the junior teams and though he has struggled with form this season, he remains a proven goal scorer.
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