Da Rosa's French revolution lifts Zebras
Mqondisi Dube | Saturday November 25, 2023 06:00
The French Revolution was a period of major social upheaval that began in 1787 and ended in 1799 and sought to redefine the nature of political power. It was a revolution that saw the rise of the peasants against the feudal system, shaking France to the core.
Thousands of miles away and centuries later, a Frenchman is determined to drive a seismic shift in the Zebras' fortunes akin to the French Revolution. Didier Gomes Da Rosa, unknown to many local football fans not long ago, has made an impressive start as Zebras coach.
His unveiling at Lekidi Football Centre did not spark the usual fanfare as fans were fast losing interest in a jaded Zebras brand. It is nearly eight years since the Zebras generated genuine excitement, playing a pleasing brand of football under Englishman, Peter Butler, which saw them fell continental giants, Burkina Faso and Mali in quick succession at then, football’s newest home; the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium. It was against Mali on November 14, 2015, that the Zebras drew a record crowd for a football match as 26, 662 fans made it through the turnstiles on a glorious afternoon.
The Zebras responded with a clinical 2-1 win over a highly fancied Mali side, to reignite the hopes of many after hitting the dark tunnel following the team’s place in the sun in 2012. But along the meandering road, the Zebras’ cause was lost, cruelly hitting a cul-de-sac and Butler left the team in 2017. In between, the late David Bright and Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote were given the reigns with varying degrees of success. There was a brief spark when the team reached the COSAFA Cup final in 2019 under Mpote, but a full revival was never achieved.
From number 86 in the world in 2016, the Zebras plummeted to 149, where the ranking has steadily hovered. At the moment, the Zebras are at number 148 in the world and among the bottom sides at number 43 out of 54 in Africa. It is almost inconceivable that the Zebras were, in 2010, just three places shy of being in the world's top 50. Amidst the disinterest, and the moans and groans from the few fans who kept interest in the Zebras, the often maligned Botswana Football Association (BFA) seems to have pulled a masterstroke.
The BFA made a bold decision to relieve Mpote of his duties, just 11 months into the job, further sparking uncertainty in the direction of the team with the World Cup qualifiers looming on the horizon. The dismissal came at a time when Mpote thought his Zebras reign was only beginning, but the BFA had other ideas.
The BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti then unveiled a largely anonymous coach in Frenchman, Da Rosa. A quick search revealed that the man had journeyed through no less than 18 jobs since 2008 casting doubts on his ability to last long on an assignment. However, he has the required pedigree after handling numerous club and national team assignments across two continents, but his nomadic ways could have been cause for anxiety. Da Rosa quietly slid into the Zebras job amid concerns the BFA could struggle to shell out his reported $25,000 (about P340,000) salary after the government flatly rejected the association’s request to fund the coach’s remuneration. But the BFA could be feeling vindicated after 90 minutes of football full of guile and promise against a formidable a Guinea outfit that had always had the better of the Zebras.
Guinea are ranked 28 places higher than Botswana in Africa and are acknowledged as a powerhouse within the continent. The Guinea stars touched down at the Philip Matante International Airport in Francistown brimming with unbridled confidence. Scattered all over Europe, the Elephants had reason to be optimistic about rolling over a hapless Zebras side smarting from a 3-2 home loss to Mozambique days earlier. But there is a new rose in town; Da Rosa, whose scent appears to have sparked the Zebras back into life.
His first game against Mozambique showed promise despite glaring defensive lapses that gave the visitors three gift-wrapped goals. Ahead of the Mozambique game, there was palpable excitement, with the call-up of Vietnamese-based, Brendon Wilson and the arrival of Da Rosa, the added catalysts. Social media sprung to life as the Zebras returned as one of the preferred topics ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. While the 3-2 loss to The Mambas put a temporary damper, thanks to the back-to-back fixtures, the optimism was back on track as five days later, the Zebras were in action against Guinea. The Elephants and as per the dictates of the rules of the jungle, were a different and difficult proposition compared to The Mambas. But the Zebras passed the gigantic assignment with flying colours and in the process, healed the wounds of the failed Wilson debut due to documentation issues. The BFA was pardoned for failing to get the Wilson registration over the line in time for the qualifiers, and discussions shifted to the impressive smash-and-grab job on the pitch. Against Guinea, the Zebras played with so much discipline, that they stuffed life out of the Elephants, who had the marauding Germany-based striker, Serhou Guirassy as their ace. In fact, had it not for the dithering but hardworking Tumisang 'Teenage' Orebonye, the score-line could have been more emphatic. Barring the misses, the team stuck to the coach’s plan to the letter, crossing the t's and dotting the i's which pleased their coach.
For long periods, the Zebras never appeared overawed by the occasion. Stability at the back has returned, with young Tebogo Kopelang playing with the aplomb of a seasoned veteran, while the sure-footed Goitseone Phoko settled the nerves. Whenever the team was out of possession, the attackers quickly dropped back, providing the first line of defence, which closed avenues for Guinea who struggled for fluency. To put the icing on the cake, Kabelo Seakanyeng, who gave the Elephants' defence a lot to think about, grabbed a fine winner in the 78th minute.
Cutting inside from the left, Seakanyeng smartly eliminated his opponent, before a decisive touch gave him partial sight of goal and he unhesitatingly pulled the trigger low into the net. The sound of the gunshot was heard far and wide, as Botswana climbed to second in their group, three points behind Algeria, in a pool that also has Uganda and Somalia. The next round of qualifiers takes place next year in June when the kaleidoscopic pieces of Zebras' revival are expected to take further shape. If the Guinea display is the template going forward, there is every reason for the renewed optimism. Just maybe, the Zebras could soon reach their full gallop and banish the bitter memories of the long dry season, as a French revolution could well and truly be underway.