Forgotten Zebras eye winning exit
Mqondisi Dube | Friday September 2, 2016 14:39
The coach’s reputation is at stake as he fights to get a new contract with the current deal due to expire in March.
Butler has built a solid reputation as a coach who throws caution to the wind through giving relatively unknown, young talent the opportunity to blossom.
Over his more than two years at the helm, Butler has seen careers of Lebogang Ditsele, Onkabetse Makgantai, Tapuwa Gadibolae, Kabelo Seakanyeng among others, thrive.
Brought into the country by immediate past Botswana Football Association (BFA) president, Tebogo Sebego in 2014, Butler managed to take the Zebras to the finals of the COSAFA Cup for the first time, but failed to qualify for the Africa Championships (CHAN) and did not replicate Stan Tshosane’s feat of reaching the AFCON finals. However, he has impressively bloodied young players with seniors and the team has played an attractive blend of football which claimed the scalp of giants Mali and Burkina Faso.
Tomorrow in Ouagadougou, Butler will seek a winning exit in what could be his last official match if his contract is not renewed.
Butler flew out with a strong squad, although there were surprise omissions and inclusions with Segolame Boy missing while misfiring Hendrick Moyo found himself on the plane to West Africa.
Orapa United steady defender, Olekantse Mambo is due for operation, while midfielder, Mogakolodi Ngele is nursing a groin injury and therefore both miss out.
Kabelo Seakanyeng remained behind due to bereavement after he lost his brother and Ofentse Nato requested to be excused due to commitments with his Indian side, Atletico de Kolkata. Butler said he was unsure about Boy’s fitness that is why he is omitted.
“He was not initially called as we remained faithful to the team that performed so well at the COSAFA Cup. And also due to the season starting late, we did not have the chance to see him in competitive action and assess his fitness.
The spirit in the team is good and I am happy with the 20 players we have taken,” Butler said.
Botswana bowed out of the running after a 2-1 home defeat to Uganda in June left them in third place, four behind joint leaders Uganda and Burkina Faso. The Zebras can only finish on nine points, which is insufficient to secure them a best placed runners-up spot.
Zimbabwe is the only team in the southern African region to make it to the finals, which Gabon hosts next January.
The squad:
Mwampule Masule, Tebogo Sosome, Kabelo Dambe, Mosimanegape Robert, Mosha Gaolaolwe, Hendrick Moyo, Keolopile Molemi, Gogontle Marumo, Lemogang Maswena, Lesenya Ramoraka, Kabelo Seakanyeng, Onkabetse Makgantai, Bogosi Kaekwe, Lebogang Ditsele, Joel Mogorosi,
Thato Kebue, Lemponye Tshireletso, Boitumelo Mafoko, Tapiwa Gadibolae, Thabang Sesinyi, Lesego Galenamotlhale