Mpote must decide and do so fast!

Mqondisi Dube | Monday September 11, 2023 16:00

The trips to the Tunisian capital, Tunis are increasingly becoming frequent with the Zebras regularly drawn against their North African irritants. The results have been one-sided, with the Zebras only managing two wins in eight encounters with Tunisia since 2004. But on July, 1 2010, Tshosane cluttered into the script and tore it into shreds as the Zebras recorded a famous 1-0 win in enemy territory. This became the catalyst to Botswana’s first ever qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012. That remains Botswana’s shining moment in football as successive coaches have failed to replicate the feat.

On Thursday, the Zebras were in familiar Tunis territory and appeared to re-live the famous 2010 moment for larger parts of the game. But pinned back for larger periods, something had to give as Zebras coach, Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote employed an ultra-defensive strategy which seemed to completely negate the attacking component. It is inevitable that Mpote will be subjected to comparison with the great Tshosane who remains the only coach to have taken the Zebras to the AFCON finals. Nothing malicious about that as history potentially shapes the present and the future.

However, if Mpote tried to be a Tshosane incarnate in Tunis, the strategy backfired horribly. The defence was Tshosane-era like, but they could not withstand the wave and wave of attack from the Tunisians. There was little prodding going forward with the triple pivot of Lebogang Ditsile, Mothusi Cooper and Gape Mohutsiwa failing to provide the needed outlet to release the attackers. On the rare foray to the Tunisian half, the Zebras proved that with a little bit of adventure and freedom, they could ask the hosts some uncomfortable questions. In one flowing move the second half, Tumisang Orebonye's quality in holding up play came to the fore to give Cooper free sight at goal, but the Gaborone United midfielder pumped his effort high and wide. That move was reminiscent of the Tshosane days where the Zebras would let the opponents have much of the ball and then wait for the smash-and-grab moment. Unfortunately with the Mpote's side, the smash-and-grab moments were few and far between. With the Zebras sitting too deep and offering very little offensively, it was a matter of time before Alford Velaphi thumped a bullet header past his keeper to open the scoring. It felt cataclysmic as a further two goals brought back all the bad Zebras memories flooding. The thought that this Zebras side under Mpote could be as inspired as during the Tshosane era, was banished in an instant.

Mpote is not Tshosane and the sooner he realizes that, the better for the progress of the Zebras. He has to decide his own trademark and do that quickly with the World Cup qualifiers on the horizon. However, there is nothing wrong for Mpote to plagiarize Tshosane's script as long as the Zebras and the nation are the ultimate winners. In academia, plagiarism is considered a serious offence, but not in football.