Tshepo Molwane
2 November 2009
Gaborone — The issue over whether Stanley Tshosane is the right man to lead the Zebras in the qualifiers for the 2012 African Nations Cup continues to be the talk of town.
In the taxis, corridors and malls, the football community is divided about the abilities of the former BDF XI coach. The debate has been ignited by the Zebras' uninspiring performance at the COSAFA Senior Challenge, which ended in Zimbabwe yesterday.
The Zebras lost 1-0 to hosts Zimbabwe in the quarterfinal but there is talk that the game could have been won easily if the technical team did not make blunders. Last Friday, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) top brass was supposed to meet with the fate of the national team coach high on the agenda. Those who argue that Tshosane has failed the Zebras believe that there is need to employ an experienced man to lead the team. On the other hand, some commentators say he is not to blame as the BFA is not doing enough to take Botswana football to greater heights. Others say the fact that the Zebras went to Zimbabwe without an assistant coach shows that the BFA do not have the interests of the nation at heart.
Former Zebras' captain Agisanyang 'Barcos' Mosimanegape believes that Tshosane has played his part and there is need to employ an experienced coach with fresh ideas. Mosimanegape told Monitor Sport that Tshosane has been there before and there are no improvements in the team's play. "It was wrong to fire Colwyn Rowe because he changed the thinking of our players.
There's no doubt that we have got good players who can compete at any level, but we need a coach who can improve their thinking," said Mosimanegape who has also captained Under 20 and 23 squads. The former Notwane star challenged players to have the interests of the nation at heart and stop playing for money only. He recalled that when he played for the Zebras, the players wanted to make the supporters happy unlike the current crop.
Like Mosimanegape, former Mochudi Centre Chiefs' defender Edwin 'Hlabankane' Masire supports the replacement of Tshosane with a foreign coach. "When Vesco (Veselin Jelusic) came, he changed the mindset of our players and the results started improving.
Supporters started filling the stadiums but after he left, our football has once again gone down the drain.
There is need to have a foreign coach who is more experienced to improve the standards of our football. To be honest, Stan has been around and has not achieved anything," Masire said. He slammed Tshosane for the approach he used against Zimbabwe in the COSAFA game saying that he was too defensive. He pointed out that the Zebras needed to attack the Zimbabweans because they were not strong enough.
Former BMC defender, Jack Gotlop differs with people who say that Tshosane cannot be blamed for the failure of the Zebras. He pointed out that the BFA has to improve its structures for the better of football. "Even if we bring an experienced coach like many people say, the problem is going to continue if things are not right at the association. There is a lot of favouritism at the BFA and it is not helping our football," added Gotlop.
Livert Ntwaagae, a former TAFIC manager who led the club to Coca-Cola triumph in 2002 said the just-ended COSAFA Cup showed that Tshosane lacked tactical acumen and he has to take the stick for losing to Zimbabwe. "I don't have a problem with him (Tshosane) continuing with the team but BFA has to get him a competent assistant who will help him.
Against Zimbabwe, the game was lost from the bench because I fail to understand why he substituted Malepa (Bolelang) and left OT (Onalethata Tshekiso) on the field. There are times when the coach has to use his knowledge to win a game and Stan seems lacking in that department," said Ntwaagae.
BFA president David Fani defended Tshosane saying that the coach must have had a strategy going into the Zimbabwean game.
He said that the Zebras played well and showed desire to win. "The fact that the players had concentration lapse towards the end of the game does not mean that we should turn against the coach. I think we learnt something from the COSAFA games which will help us in the future," said Fani.
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I say Tshosane must stay and the problems that we've been hearing about should be solved. Problems such as having the team to train for only two days a week. You can bring all the good coaches you can lay your hands on but that will not solve the problems. There are just too many problems and I wonder when people are going to think rationally. As long as we have those problems will always fail to conquer. Lets not be haste in making decisions. I say Tshosane must stay. Lets stop changing coaches like under wear.