29 Jun 2022

The senior national football team debutants have vowed to work hard to ensure Botswana reaches COSAFA Cup final. 

Mogomotsi Mpote’s new charges see the championships, billed for Durban, South Africa from July 5 to 17, as an opportunity to prove their mettle and gain permanent spot in the team.

Eleven Angels player, Monty Enosa, said in an interview that his mission was to help the country reach the final.

“The call up on its own was motivation, therefore I need to work very hard and convince the technical team that I was not a mistake,” he said.

Enosa said preparations for COSAFA Cup were going well.  He said other players had given him a warm welcome.

Extension Gunners player, Obusitswe ‘Booster’ Gabadise said he was grateful for the opportunity to don the national team jersey at senior level.

Should he be given a chance in the first eleven, Gabadise said he would not disappoint, promising to do his best to ensure the country gets desirable results.

“Honestly, I am hungry for success and my desire is to remain in the senior team, which I know would be determined by my performance,” he said.

For his part, Morupule Wanderers’ Thobo Seeleko said being called to the senior national team duty was a dream come true, adding his ambition was to lift the COSAFA Cup trophy.

“I like what I see in the national team. They have welcomed us debutants and it is for us to work very hard and come up with results,” he said.

Mpote said he had called new and experienced players to ensure continuity. 

He said there was need for the Under 20 and 23 players to be introduced to intensive competition.

Mpote said the intention was to have a ‘conveyor belt’ where the upcoming players would be prepared to take the baton from aging players.

“The Under 23 will be playing Olympic qualifiers next year, so I am optimistic that COSAFA and CHAN will help them have a feel of a competitive tournament,” he said.

The coach said in 2019, when the Zebras made it to the final, he had selected the Under 23 players for COSAFA with Joel Mogorosi being the only senior player. 

Mpote added that looking at their group, which has Seychelles, Comoros and Angola, Botswana could pull a surprise.

He expressed optimism to lift the COSAFA trophy, saying the current crop of players were all hungry for success. 

The Zebras will take on Seychelles on July 5, Comoros on July 0 with their last group assignment being against Angola on July 10. 

All their games start at 2pm at King Zwelethini Stadium. Ends