Boitumelo Khutsafalo
2 July 2009
The national soccer team's preparations for the Sunday international friendly against Iran has suffered a setback after two goalkeepers - Barolong Lemmenyane and Botlhe Moralo - dropped out due to injuries.
Coach Stanley Tshosane has been forced to replace the injured duo with Kabelo Dambe of Township Rollers and Raphael Nthwane of Gaborone United.
Both Lemmenyane of Mogoditshane Fighters and Moralo of Notwane have been in sparkling form for their clubs. Lemmenyane's daring saves was largely responsible for Fighters' Coca-Cola Cup victory over Rollers.
Though Notwane is struggling, Moralo is enjoying a good season at the club. The gangly goal minder has remained one of the best performers at the fading Gaborone giants.
Of the replacement goalkeepers, Nthwane is not new to the Zebras' set up. He was called up in the last World and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Dambe is an Under-20 player who has been promoted to the senior team together with Uniao Flamengo Santos' striker, Mogakolodi Ngele. BDF XI midfielder, Patrick Motsepe, who once made the squad during Colwyn Rowe's reign, makes a return to the national team. Tshosane said he is happy that all the other players are available for the Iran match.
He hopes that his players do not pick up injuries in Premier League games before the Sunday match. Zebras play a practice match against a select team from the First Division South at the Molepolole Stadium today. Botswana Football Association (BFA) chief executive officer, Tosh Kgotlele told a press briefing in Gaborone this week that all stakeholders have to rally behind the team. He said the coach is trying to widen the pool of local players in preparation for the 2012 AFCON qualifiers. That is why the foreign-based players have been excluded from the current squad.
Kgotlele said the association will continue to look for strong opposition for the Zebras and next on the list could be China.
He added that the BFA faces a serious shortage of match venues leading to fixture congestion. He said the BFA, the Premier league Committee (PLC) and the tournaments' organisers regularly meet to reach a compromise. He is optimistic that Botswana will host teams coming to South Africa for the World Cup next June as the National Stadium, Lobatse and the SSKB would be ready for use after renovations.
Kgotlele is however concerned with the shortage of good hotels in the country prior to the World Cup. He said that most teams that come to Botswana prefer to stay only at the five-star Grand Palm Hotel. Iran is expected to arrive in the country on Saturday.
Kgotlele said the Iranians were supposed to arrive today but could not because of problems with flight connections.
Tickets for the match are going for P50 for adults. Children under the age of 12 accompanied by parents will be allowed into the stadium free.
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