07 Sep 2018

Coach Major David Bright says the Zebras  will defend strongly and counter-attack when they clash with Angola in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Sunday.

The Zebras visit the Sable Antelopes at the daunting Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda on Sunday needing victory to get their qualifying campaign back on track after losing 1-0 to Mauritania in their opening Group I match last year.

Botswana has never won away to Angola in a competitive encounter, but Bright was confident during a media briefing on Wednesday that victory was possible if his men could implement their tactics properly. The veteran coach explained that they would look to be compact in defence and hit the opponents on counter-attacks.

“We will try to manage the game in the first 15 minutes and look at how they respond to our tactics. We are not going to throw ourselves at the opponents. We have to be careful when we attack them because we are playing away,” he said.

He added that the Angolan players were in a better physical condition compared to the Zebras since the loca league had just started, and that his team would need to be compact at the back.

“I believe that if we are very good in defence to counter-attack them would not be a problem because we have a lot of speedy players that can do that,” he said.

Bright said the fact that Angola had called about five European based players did not faze him. He said his troops should just concentrate on applying their defensive and attacking principles well.

Bright however expressed frustration at how his team’s preparations unfolded, saying the team managed just two tactical training sessions on Tuesday and played a single training match against foreign players based in the country on Wednesday before travelling to Luanda on Thursday. He was concerned that the lack of adequate tactical training could result in players committing mistakes during the match.

“The reason for this poor tactical preparations is because of the ongoing league here. I believe that if Botswana Football Association could have postponed the league last weekend we were going to have a lot of friendlies to prepare the team. We will however use our experience and knowledge to counter the opposition,” he said.

The final 20 squad selected by the coach includes:

Goalkeepers: Kabelo Dambe (Bloemfontein Celtic) and Mwampule Masule (Township Rollers)

Defenders: Lesego Keredilwe, Thabang Mosige (Orapa United), Simisani Mathumo, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Mosha Gaolaolwe (Township Rollers), Tshepo Maikano (Gaborone United) and Lesenya Ramoraka (Highlands Park)

Midfielders: Lebogang Ditsele and Thero Setsile (Jwaneng Galaxy), Motsholetsi Sikele and Lemponye Tshireletso (Rollers), Alphonse Modisaotsile, (GU), Thatayaone Kgamanyane and Kabelo Seakanyeng (Chippa United), Mpho Kgaswane (Baroka) and Mogakolodi Ngele (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Strikers: Onkabetse Makgantai (Baroka) and Tumisang Orebonye. ENDS