‘Clash of legends’ match angers Mpote

Chakalisa Dube | Monday June 19, 2023 11:52

The Zebras defeated Libya by a solitary Gape Mohutshiwa strike on Saturday at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in a dead rubber.

What really infuriated Mpote is the 'Clash of Legends' match (Zebras and Bafana Bafana legends), which was staged in the capital Gaborone over the weekend, the same day the senior national team played Libya in Francistown.

He posited that staging the legends match on the same day as the AFCON qualifier is an insult to the integrity of football in Botswana. On another level, the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Tumiso Rakgare attracted so much criticism for attending the legends match at the expense of the AFCON qualifier. “I am surprised that there are games in Gaborone.

This week is an international FIFA week. This shows lack of respect (staging the legends match on the FIFA week) for the national team. Most national teams all over the world are playing today.

There are no matches or events competing with their respective matches except for Botswana,” Mpote said. An unrelenting Mpote added: “We do not take our football seriously.

Tomorrow we will be pointing figures, blaming the players and the coach for the dismal performance of the national team. The very same players we supported in 2012 (when Botswana qualified for AFCON) are the same players who are part of the legends match. I am hurt. This is nonsense.” Despite that, Mpote expressed his appreciation towards the supporters who went to the stadium on Saturday. In terms of spectators the weekend match was a resounding success.

“The people of Francistown have always backed the team. They have never let us down. The atmosphere is always great when we play here. We are very grateful for that,” he said.

Mpote added that the mandate of the match was well executed. “We wanted to win to boost the confidence of the players. It was also important to give the new players a run so that they get used to the intensity and pressure of playing international matches. I think the new players fared well,” Mpote stated. Among the young players that earned their debuts on Saturday are Eleven Angels’ forward Eric Ookame. Meanwhile, a 45th minute Mohutsiwa strike was enough to give the Zebras the win in an average clash.

The teams:

Botswana: Lesenya Malapela, Alford Velaphi, Benson Mangolo, Tebogo Kopelang, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (C), Gape Mohutsiwa, Kabelo Seaakanyeng (Mothusi Johnson), Lebogang Ditsele, Molaodi Tlhelefang (Gofaone Mabaya), Godiraone Modingwane (Eric Ookame), Thabang Sesinyi (Thabang Khuduga)

Libya: Murad Alwuheetshi, Abdallla Sherif (Aboubakar Meeld), Naji Dura, Suhaib Shafshuf, Hamdou Elhouni, Moftah Taktak, Mohamed Aleyat, Zakaria Alharaish, Tahir Amir, Rabia Alshadi Ellafi Muaid