Let's identify our man and go and get him

Thuso Palai | Tuesday December 17, 2013 12:44

It’s going to be tough to find the most suitable candidate to fill the role.  In most cases, when Associations fire National team coaches they usually have a plan B in place, not with us. The BFA had long contemplated firing Stan Tshosane, and I would have thought they would have long started thinking about a possible replacement.

As it were, one would ask what ‘most suitable’ is. The most suitable coach would have the right qualifications, have the vigour and energy to take our football forward, and most importantly get us results. Although not stated in the advertisement for the position, most importantly he should be able and should be ready for the working conditions here in Botswana and come at the right price. Development is one other issue that we have to look at when considering who to appoint. We do not have a lot of money to splash around and that could be one of the reason we are going to struggle to get someone of the highest calibre. It can be a good thing and it can also be a bad thing. It can be good in the sense that we won’t be struck with someone earning mega bucks and not performing.  And the bad thing could be that the relatively low salary we offer will be a hindrance.  As compared to other countries in the wider Africa, we pay relatively low, although some of us would think otherwise.  

It was widely reported that the last time the position was advertised, there were a few internationals who showed interest and actually applied. Interviews were apparently done but no consensus was reached on who to appoint. There were a few more others who also enquired. I have it on good authority that one former Italian international had actually enquired. Although I never really got excited, I was happy that he knew about Botswana. To some extent, that is the major challenge in trying to lure the crème de la crème. Not many people know about us and our football, hence the snub. This time around, we will also struggle to woo a lot of potentials. We do however need to remain optimistic and hope that we do get competent options to choose from. Quite honestly, we are not the most attractive of jobs, and we have to take that into consideration. Our bar cannot be very very high.

I for one feel that we should identify our man and approach that man with a view to sealing a deal. There are a few names that jump out at me, and I’m pretty sure the learned and wise heads at Lekidi also have a few names on their minds.

I don’t see much headway with this floating of the position again. We have tried that and we didn’t get many applications. Now we have to take the matter by the scruff of the neck and make a decision. I do not see any success in once again floating it in the media. Let’s be honest to ourselves; not many Batswana will be hotly considered for the position, and not many foreigners will have great, great interest. This therefore means that we have to identify our man, wherever they may be, and start working on trying to hook them to come here and sign a contract.  We did that when we go Keith Masters from England, why not do it again, follow the same route and appoint a coach. It would not be the first time we do it.