The gaffer tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) prior to the trip, Botswana Football Association (BFA) has said. Thaloba Nthaga has since been roped in with Belindah Moatswi and Thabo Motang as assistant coaches while Joseph Maposa remains goalkeeper coach. “The head coach will however not travel with the team after testing positive for COVID-19 and is currently undergoing mandatory COVID-19 isolation.
The technical team going into the COSAFA senior women's championship will be led by Thaloba Nthaga as head coach, Belindah Moatswi as first assistant coach, Thabo Motang as second assistant coach and Joseph Maposa as goalkeeper coach. Dr Ntshise will take the reign as the team doctor with Unaludo as the team physiotherapist,” the statement from BFA says.
This is the second time in over a month period where COVID-19 has managed to get inside the bio-bubble at Lekidi Football Centre. Last month, Gaborone Region league side, Double Action was forced to leave behind three players due to the novel for their COSAFA CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers trip to South Africa.
This now leaves the Mares’ technical team without two heads in Nkutlwisang her long-term assistant, Alex Malete.
The Mares has been drawn in Group B together with South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe at the regional tournament. The team will begin their quest for glory gainst South Sudan at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in a midday kick off time. Meanwhile the national Under-20 girls have began their quest to reach the World Cup on a high note.
The team beat Angola 4-1 in the first leg of the first round of qualifiers played in Luanda on Saturday. Goals from Obonetse Rathari, Keitumetse Dithebe, Peggy Manewe and an own goal by the Angolans were enough to give Tapaphiwa Gaebolae’s girls a resounding lead ahead of the second leg to be played at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on October 9..
