27 Nov 2019

Botswana Intergrated Sports Association (BISA)  spokesperson Letsweletse Jonas says they are optimistic about the Under 15 team soaring high at the Copa Coca Cola tourney billed for Kenya from December 2-5.

This is the second time Team Botswana is participating in the competition that attracts 12 teams from 12 countries across Africa.

Last year they finished third in the same meet also in Kenya.

Jonas said given the preparations afforded to the team they are aiming for a gold or silver medal only.

Kenya are the defending champions after winning the inaugural tournament last year in Nakuru.

In an interview on Tuesday Jonas said they have a sound team following vigorous selection processes across the country.

“We have only one player from last year’s squad, basically the squad prides itself over

fresh and agile players who want to display their skill. While we held selection meets, we were also boosted by players from some of Botswana Football Association’s development programmes.”

He said the squad is a contingent of players from secondary schools around the country.

Joy Kenosi is the team’s head of technical, assisted by Thabiso Ramosweu.

They will be taking at least 16 players to go and ensure that they hoist the country’s flag high.

Many football pundits have hailed the Copa Coca cola cup as they are of the view that it breeds the next cohort of African football stars.

The tournament will be divided in to four pools and team Botswana is drawn into pool D with the Burkina Faso and Angola.

In pool A there is the defending champs Kenya, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, while pool B consists of South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania and lastly pool C have on it Ethiopia, Namibia and Uganda.

The local lads are expected to kick start their quest of being champions by locking horns with Burkina Faso on December 2nd in the morning then they will finish their group D fixtures by playing Angola.

The top two teams in each group will qualify for the quarter final together with the overall two best third placed teams.

The team is expected to leave on Saturday for the competition. Ends