02 Oct 2014

The senior national football team, Zebras sealed Botswana’s 48th independence celebration in style after beating Zimbabwe one-nil, in a friendly game played at the National Stadium on September 30.

The game started at a low tempo, with both teams cautious avoiding to move forward, but as the game progressed, the Zebras realised that they were playing in their own turf, in front of their twelfth player, and started to move forward searching for a goal.

Although it was the local lads who were asking more questions, lady luck was not on their side when Edwin Olerile crossed from the right to Khumoetsile Kufigwa, but he shot wide, equally Zimbabwe also created a scoring opportunity but lack of composure in the box cost them dearly.

The game went into a recesses with a score sheet reading nil all, but after half time break, Zebras came back more rejuvenated as they managed to play as a unit, but on the 63rd minute Zebras coach, Peter 'PJ' Butler was forced to make a substitution, after Oscar Ncenga was injured by introducing Leutlwetse Tshireletso, who also managed to stabalise the game.

On the 69th minute, Kenanao 'Flo' Kgetholetsile missed a golden scoring opportunity, when he was only left with the goal keeper to beat and on the 70th minute Segolame Boy missed yet another seater.

Sensing trouble, the Warriors also tried to catch the Zebras on counter attacks but they were too slow to move forward, and on the 70th minutes, Zebras goal minder, Dikago Wagarre raise to the occasion when he denied the visitors what could have been an opening goal, after a well taken free kick by Lawrence Mhlanga who came in as a substitute.

Zebras continued to pile more pressure on the Warriors and on the 73rd minute, they were awarded a corner kick, and Galabgwe Moyana send it straight to the net to make it one-nil. The goal gave Botswana youngsters confidence as they managed to exchange good passes moving forward, but could not increasseale the goal tally.

Immediately after the game, Butler said he was not using the game as a preparatory match for the coming game against Egypt. He said his intention was to try good players who are never given opportunity at their clubs, adding that he was happy that they have shown a lot of character.

PJ further said during the game it was too windy, something which he said denied all the teams to play good football. His counterpart Saul Chaminuka said his “Warriors” played very well, considering that they were recently assembled to play the Zebras.

“We have lost, yes but to me we have won we have just assembled our team, and we started training as a team here in Gaborone, if we had a week to prepare for the game, honestly we could have done better,” he said.

The Warriors coach further said he was impressed by Zebras team because they played as a unit, adding that equally his players had a good game approach, given that they played according to instructions.

He said majority of his players have just graduated from under 20, and their hard work and resilience on the game was of top class.
Chaminuka further hailed Galabgwe Moyana, saying he is a good player “he made things happen for the Zebras, and if Botswana had two or three players of his caliber, this country will be a force to reckon with,” he said.

Zebra’s next assignment will be against the Pharaohs, of Egypt on October 10, in a 2015 AFCON qualifying game. Ends