Phoko proves his worth Until Kabelo Dambe was dropped in 2019, the national team has never had an undisputed starter. Goalkeepers Lesenya Malapela (Orapa United), Ezekiel Morake (Ethiopian Coffee), and Goitseone Phoko (Gaborone United) amongst others have failed to establish themselves as regulars in the national team.
Dambe was recently drafted into the national side and straightaway started the opening match of the qualifiers against Mozambique. He would then be dropped in the second match against Guinea owing to an injury and in came Phoko. Phoko was probably the best player for the Zebras against proven players from Guinea. Apart from making crucial saves, Phoko was instrumental in helping the Zebras to build up from the back and organising his defence. His display highlighted maturity and there is no doubt he is slowly proving his worth in the national team and will play a valuable role under coach, Da Rosa, going forward.
The resilience There have always been questions surrounding the Zebras’ ability to maintain their resilience against solid opponents in crucial matches. Even in the first match against Mozambique, Da Rosa bemoaned that the team lacked resilience or the mental strength to withstand pressure.
But against Guinea, Da Rosa’s charges proved that they have the necessary tools to shrug off any form of pressure. Zebras were even able to navigate their way out of tough situations through neat interchanges without aimlessly kicking the ball upfield. If Da Rosa can fully impose his methodology and with proper guidance, the Zebras will turn out to be a more resilient side going forward.
Da Rosa’s tactical shrewdness The French coach endeared himself to the football fraternity with his attacking play in his first match against Mozambique but proved his virtuosity against Guinea. The Zebras were poor at the back against Mozambique and let in three silly goals.
The technical team heeded calls to start with Security Systems defender, Tebogo Kopelang. The latter partnered with Kaizer Chiefs’ Thatayaone Dithokwe while Mosha Gaolaolwe was moved into the middle of the park replacing the injured Lebogang Ditsele. That proved to be a tactical masterstroke and highlighted Da Rosa’s tactical acumen. Kopelang complimented Dithokwe very well. Apart from his ability to read the game, his aerial strength and ability to compete were a plus for the Zebras against the physical and highly rated Serhou Guirassy. The decision to deploy Gaolaolwe in the middle was also well thought out. He was less mobile and ensured that the defence was not exposed and opponents had little space to exploit in the middle.
The bigger picture Based on the performance of the two matches, the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign should not only be about results. The general feeling amongst the supporters is that Da Rosa should be given a long-term mandate to build a team for the future. In addition, he took over the team about four weeks ago but already some at Lekidi Football Centre reportedly believe that with his philosophy, the team can go far. For this reason, it is not far-fetched to assume that the qualifiers should also serve as a platform for Da Rosa to build a new look Zebras that would meritoriously compete soon.
The fans Once again, the fans in Francistown and adjacent areas proved that there is a significant difference between loyal and bandwagon fans in football. Both qualifiers were played in midweek, but they turned up in numbers. There were fears that supporters might shun the match owing to the narrative that the performance of the team is on the decline, but they showed that they will always be there in good or bad times. The Zebras responded with a spirited display and made their much-lauded opponents look like minnows.
