24 Mar 2022

Botswana senior national football team’s plan to play Tanzania has not materialised because the encounter was going to flout FIFA rules of hosting Tier 1 games.

Tanzania had reportedly invited three countries for friendlies during this international window, but FIFA rules regulating Tier 1 indicate that a country is allowed to play only two Tier 1 games in a window.

However, the development did not go well with Botswana Football Association (BFA).

The association’s CEO, Mfolo Mfolo, said in an interview that they were disappointed and accused Tanzania of dealing with them in bad faith.

“Even when their secretary general was here, we agreed. They are the ones who invited us to play a friendly game with them,” he said.

Mfolo said initially they were supposed to play a tournament in Turkey, but agreed to play Tanzania instead.

He said Tanzania inconvenienced Botswana given that the Zebras would be playing an AFCON qualifier in June.

And the technical team had wanted to use the game to identify gaps, weaknesses and strength.

“It is a drawback. It was a good opportunity to play Tanzania because for a very long time we had been playing against Lesotho and Swaziland, so we were happy to have secured Tanzania, which is also higher in terms of rankings,” he said.

Mfolo said though Botswana Premier League was competitive, playing against Taifa Stars of Tanzania would have been an opportunity to gauge players’performance at the national team.

However, Mfolo said they were in talks with Ethiopia and if succeed, they could play on Tuesday.

Zebras team provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Goitseone Phoko (Gaborone United), Kenneth Mmoko (SUA Flamingoes), Lesenya Malapela (Orapa United).

Defenders: Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (SuperSport United - South Africa), Larona Modisaemang, Sylvester Leririma (Police XI), Mothusi Johnson, Thato Kebue (Gaborone United) Onkarabile Ratanang (Township Rollers) Ratlhogo Ratlhogo, Tlamelo Kolagano (Orapa United) and Tebogo Kopelang (Security Systems)

Midfielders: Goitseone Legopelo (SUA Flamingoes), Allen Ndodole, Gofaone Mabaya ,Tumelo Majola (Orapa United), Botshelo Mangena (Police XI),Doctor David (Jwaneng Galaxy), Godiraone Modingwane (BDF XI), Lebogang Ditsele (Gaborone United), Mothusi Cooper (Mouloudia Club d’Oujda – Morocco), Phenyo Serameng (Township Rollers), Tawana Mbakile (Security Systems), Thabo Wetshoemang (Morupule Wanderers)

Strikers: Thero Setsile, Thatayaone Kgamanyane (Gaborone United), Godfrey Tauytswala (BDF XI) Kabelo Seakanyeng, Tumisang Orebonye (Olympique Club Khouribga), Kabelo Babusi (Extension Gunners). ENDS