08 Apr 2019

Botswana senior women football players have been urged to focus and capitalise on their rivals mistakes to score more goals and proceed to the next stage of the African qualifiers Women’s Olympic Tokyo 2020.

The senior girls made a blazing debut in the first round at the National Stadium in Gaborone as they beat Namibia 1-0 on April 5.

The girls arrived safely on April 6 for the return leg scheduled for today (April 9) in the Namibian capital, Windhoek.

German sports expert, Carolin Bruan urged the girls to forget about their first-leg win, noting that their opponents aim was revenge as their head coach was not happy with their performance hence the need to change their game plan.

She made the remarks during a meeting to evaluate the team’s performance and prepare for the second leg.

Bruan said they should not underestimate their opponents as that was dangerous.

“Namibia will be more intense this time and seek revenge and you need to play differently and fight for at least two goals so that we proceed to the next stage,” she advised.

She appreciated that the players might be exhausted, but encouraged them to vigorously prepare for the game, adding that they should refresh, drink more water and mind what they eat.

Players were also advised to help each other to be in a good mood to win the game.

Goalkeeper coach, Joseph Maphosa concurred with the expert and advised the girls to play with a different mood as Namibia was going to come at them in numbers to catch them on the counter attack.

He advised them to exploit the wings, saying every time they win the ball, they should go to the wings and not in the middle. 

“We want to see women in the field, not girls, go there and fight like women,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the winning team between the countries is expected to lock horns with the South African senior women team. 

The players assured their officials that they would do their best as their aim was to go further and secure seats to the Olympic  games. 

They said they were physically and mentally fit to battle it out with Namibia. ENDS