10 Nov 2020

 A fierce battle is expected, when Botswana senior women national team face the Copper Queens of Zambia in a COSAFA 2020 Women’s Championship Semifinal encounter to be played at Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa on November 12.

Botswana booked a semi-final spot after beating Tanzania 1-0, courtesy of 49^th minute strike by Zambian based player Thanda Mokgabo.  

They went on to prove that they were a force to reckon with by beating Zimbabwe on Monday November 9, after winning by a solitary goal netted by Refilwe ‘Seven’ Tholakelo.

Being pitted against the Copper Queens will be a do or die encounter, given that it was the same side which knocked out Botswana in an Olympic Qualifiers last year.

However, it remains to be seen as to how the Zambians will handle the high riding Botswana women in the absence of their instrumental players, among them the deadly Mary Mwakapila currently in Israel. 

However, both Botswana players and the technical team are aware of how ruthless the Copper Queens can be, more especially moving forward.

Botswana side assistant coach, Alex Malete said, in an interview, that they understood who they were dealing with, following their Olympic qualifiers encounter, last year.

“But this is a totally different game, we know it is a one legged encounter, therefore a lot is at stake, and we are going to do our best,” he said.  He said tomorrow’s game is a must win if they were to realise their dreams of playing in the COSAFA finals, hence they need a game plan and approach to enable them to proceed to the next round.

The assistant coach said he was cognisant of the Copper Queens’ virtuous players, adding that a bonus for them was that they were using the same players they faced in the Olympic qualifiers.

Malete, known for being good at analysing the opponents, said the Copper Queens also did not have their striker, Rachael Nachula, adding that although Barbara Banda was present, she was not a threat as she did not pose any danger in their last encounter.

“Now as Botswana, we really need to do well in devising strategies for other aspects of the game in terms of attack, defence and transition,” he said.

Malete said they had used about five players from the under 20 among them Mitchel Abueng, Lone Gaofetoge, Ontlametse Gaonyadiwe, and Esalenna Galekhutlhe, who did not disappoint.

“I think we have a young and exciting squad, complimented by very experience players such as captain Bonang Otlhagile, but I think we need to work on our scoring technique, because I feel we do not utilise our good scoring opportunities,” he said. ENDS