04 Jun 2018

 Botswana crashed out of the ongoing COSAFA Cup following a 3-1 defeat on penalties to defending champions, Zimbabwe after both teams played to a 1-all stalemate in the quarter-finals at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
With an ensemble of their decorated foreign players, Zimbabwe went into the match seeking revenge over Botswana after the Zebras claimed their scalp back in April in the inaugural President Independence Cup.
Botswana on the other side, qualified for the quarter-finals in style as they put six past Mauritius to cement the top spot of Group B, setting up a quarter-final against seeded Zimbabwe.
Botswana’s coach, Major David Bright made a few changes to his line-up as he deployed Tebogo Sosome at the heart of the defence and shifted Tshepo Maikano to the right back to replace Katlego Masole who played second fiddle to Thato Kebue who sat out the encounter to serve a suspension.
In the middle of the park, Maj. Bright made one change, starting with Township Rollers starlet, Gape Mohutsiwa alongside the dynamic duo of Alphonse Modisaotsile and Godiraone Modingwane.
The Warriors nearly broke the deadlock in the early exchanges as their star player, Khama Billiat made a great run behind the Zebras backline only to fashion a clean low drive shot, which was equally saved by Mwampole Masule. It was evident that Zimbabwe were enjoying a large share of possession, but could not find the killer instinct to draw first blood.
Botswana on the other end also took the game to their counterparts with the only chance falling at the feet of hot blowing Onkabetse Makgantai after a cross from the industrious Lesenya Ramoraka on the left side, but Makgantai could not beat Chigova from close range.
Zimbabwe drew first blood in the 39th minute as Billiat set free marksman, Evans Rusike clear of goal, the striker calmly slotted his shot past Masule to give Zimbabwe the lead at the interval.
Eight minutes after the recess, Bright made a double substitution as he brought in attacking minded Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Tumisang Orebonye.
The changes looked to have revitalised Bright’s men, as they kept Zimbabwe on the back foot, the pressure soon paid off after Makgantai made atonement for his missed opportunity early in the first half, as he headed past Chigova from Kabelo Seakanyeng’s corner to restore parity for the Zebras.
As the game opened up, both teams went searching for a tie breaker with Zimbabwe still posing all kinds of threats, but the golden chance at the other end fell for Orebonye who fluffed his lines from point black range after Makgantai did all the hard work by beating Chigova.
Both teams could not find that all important tie breaker as they headed into a penalty shoot-out. Both teams converted their first two spot kicks but Botswana’s next three kick takers were brilliantly denied by Chigova to give Zimbabwe safe passage to the semi-finals against Lesotho.
In the post-match conference, Bright commended his players despite the defeat. “It was a very good game of football although we started with a slower pace because we knew very well they were going to come strong at us, but after making those two changes we started piling the pressure on them and were very unfortunate not to score the goal but that is football,” he said.
The former Botswana under 23 coach continued to pour heaps of praise on the Zebras for their gutsy performance in significance to playing four tough matches in a space of seven days. He further gave credit to his counterparts stating that “they are a quality side.”
The Zebras still have an opportunity to finish on a high and save some face as they will take on the Kingdom of Eswatini in the plate semi-final on Tuesday.
 Hosts South Africa will play against Namibia in the 2nd semi-final after both sides lost to this year’s COSAFA Cup semi-finalists Madagascar and Zambia respectively while Zimbabwe will face Lesotho who sent Eswatini packing in the other quarter final. ENDS