07 Apr 2016

Battle of David and Goliath is expected at Lobatse Sports Complex, where Botswana senior national football team will battle it out with their South African counterparts (Banyana Banyana) in AFCON qualifiers, Cameroon 2016 on Saturday.

Despite the deafening silence about the game by Botswana Football Association, given that as at Tuesday nothing was said by the office to sensitise Batswana about the important fixture, should Botswana beat South Africa Banyana home and away automatically they will qualify for AFCON, and Botswana has never come this close in women’s football hence it is important that all stakeholders should support women national team in their quest to defeat Banyana.

Although Banyana have turned Botswana their daily bread, this time around the players and Batswana are confident, as BOPA reporter Anastacia Sibanda found out during a chat with some football fanatics on the game at Gaborone bus rank.

Waratwa Moswete, is of the view that with all the support from BFA and all stake holders, Botswana can shake the world and beat Banyana back to back and ultimately qualify for Afcon.

She said a lot of things would be at stake on Saturday, bragging rights and qualifying for AFCON for the first time in history.

The coach she said have capable players like Bame Ngenda, Nondi Mahlasela, Balotlhanyi Johannes, Bonang Otlhagile who can cause havoc on the day.

Moswete said not putting the coach under pressure, it can work for the team if she can mix the youngsters with experienced players.

“You see Banyana always collect maximum points against us but this time I am confident that, Zebby Banyana will turn the tables around,” she said.

Ririna Mzinghi said all Batswana should fill Lobatse Stadium and rally behind the team as that would motivate “the girls”.

She said the fact that the Mares managed to beat Mauritius home and away was a clear indication that if they had worked hard preparing for the encounter then the sky is the limit.

Furthermore, she said she was confident that the Mares can cause a big upset, adding the fact that they qualified for the Olympics does not translate that they can easily walk over the local girls.

For Abel Lerotsi, the game means a lot to Batswana in general given that women football has never been taken seriously, adding women are now making their own case.

He said he was confident that the Mares would come with positive results both home and away looking at the importance of the game.

“Again I think the girls also need serious motivation, equally during the game they should not hero worship Banyana. We need to beat this team at all cost,” he said.

Mosimanegape Mothibi said the Mares need to be commended for reaching this stage, adding that it is now of paramount importance that Batswana should fill up the stadium, given that the game would be free.

Banyana,he said was a beatable team provided that local girls after beating Mauritius they continued with hard work, knowing that the game would be very difficult. Ends