Zebras supporters ready for Mozambique
BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer
| Friday June 6, 2008 00:00
The spokesperson for the Gaborone branch, Benjamin Kelepang told Mmegi Sport yesterday that they were not sure whether they would be able to get the second bus going. 'People are still coming but we got the money and told them that if the numbers fail to fill the second bus, we will return their money and only use one bus,' he said. He also revealed that other branches, Mahalapye, Tlokweng and Thamaga have also confirmed that they are travelling. 'We always encourage people to pay as early as possible so that we can plan in time; people should stop this tendency of coming at the last minute. The second bus cannot go half or quarter full,' he added. If they manage to fill the second bus, it would serve as motivation for the players who are under pressure to come home with a positive result.
Kalepang revealed that for away games, it is common practice that they use two buses.
He was optimistic that there will be enough support for the Zebras who go into game under a new technical team. He also indicated that they suspect that the current politics at the Botswana Football Association (BFA) concerning the national team have an impact on the number of supporters travelling to Mozambique. He believes that people still want to know what exactly is going on. But he encouraged people to rally behind the Zebras whether they do well or not. 'In the normal game, people would stand up, sing and dance when the Zebras score but once it goes down, they would sit down, when in actual fact, that is the time the boys need more support to lift their spirits,' he added.
Looking at the last game, Kelepang said that sometimes it is wrong for people to be accusing coaches when things go awry. 'People usually accused him [Colwyn Rowe] of failing to make substitutions but the last game against Madagascar, he did the best he could do. He did not only make substitutions but also made them in time,' he said. He said that the sacking of Rowe might raise questions as to whether Rowe was the problem or a scapegoat. 'People might feel that he was made the scapegoat if the national team continues to perform the way it has been performing but what is important is that the players and the technical team need our support,' he added.
The buses leave tonight for Swaziland en route to Mozambique. The supporters will relax the whole Saturday in Swaziland and sleep at the Why Not Motel. They leave on Sunday morning for Maputo and return to Swaziland immediately after the game and stay over night at Why Not Motel before returning to Gaborone on Monday.