Bright start for Butler
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday March 7, 2014 16:59
The coach used a number of new players in a team that showed good potential though the opposition was lightweight.
The South Sudanese arrived on the day of the match following complications with their trip.
They were forced to leave some of their key players and officials back home. With the country troubled by civil unrest, the squad that played against the Zebras was chosen from two clubs only as some parts of the country are unreachable.
In his starting line up, Butler gave Moreetsi Mosimanyana, Leutlwetse Tshireletso, Otlantshekela Mooketsi and Osego Gaotewe their first taste of action in national team colours. That means the defence was manned by newcomers as Mosimanyana partnered Tshireletso at centre back while Mooketsi and Gaotewe played on the flanks.
Butler also took a bold decision to start seasoned Ofentse Nato on the bench and gave 19-year-old, Keorapetse Seloiso his debut. The youngster covered the defence well as a holding midfielder before he was replaced in the middle of the second half. Sekhana Koko made his return to the team after a long spell and played brilliantly. With captain, Joel Mogorosi, they gave the Sudanese full backs a torrid time with their speed. “I am delighted that we won the match with several new players. It is still work in progress and we should aim at growing every time,” Butler told journalists.
He said there is still a long way to go but he was happy with the fact that his players stuck to the game plan and followed instructions. “I want more and I know I can get more. We should continue to look for talent. It was quite challenging to select a new team especially that I have only arrived in Botswana. I could have taken an easier route of picking tried and tested players but I did not want to do that,” he explained.
Butler has said that he will pick players based on current form and youth. Besides Gaotewe, Tshireletso, Mooketsi and Seloiso, Butler introduced national Under-20 striker, Unobatsha Mbaiwa and Extension Gunners’ Kelelelo Kgosimore. Bloemfontein Celtic man, Joel Mogorosi scored a brace in the first half while Nato pounced in the second half for the 3-0 victory. The first goal came as a result of individual brilliance from Mogorosi. He outpaced a South Sudan defender before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper.
He got the second goal after a scramble in the box, while Nato powered a cracker home in the second half. Overall, Zebras would have won by an avalanche of goals but missed several opportunities. Jackie Mothatego hit the upright with less than 10 minutes on the clock. Mbaiwa also missed a one-on-one chance while Tenogo Sembowa failed to utilise the good opportunities that came his way.