05 Dec 2023

The Mares coach and his technical team have done their part in drilling the team to be in good shape as they take on Harambee Starlets of Kenya in the return leg clash of 2024 WAFCON qualifiers this evening at the National Stadium.

In the first leg, the two side played to a one all draw, and the winner will qualify for the WAFCON 2024 to be held in Morocco.

This is one game that needs players to be mentally strong, focussed and to concentrate for the entire 90 minutes, because one mistake might cost the nation to a second outing at WAFCON.

The Mares captain, Sedilame “Tsotso” Bosija said in an interview that the team’s mission was to make it to WAFCON.

“We have been there once and we want to make it for the second consecutive time. I know that it will not come easy as we will have to dig deep for us to board a flight to Morocco. But Batswana should expect positive results from us,” she said.

Bosija said the Harambee Starlets game was a motivation by its own, and players know the feeling of playing in the WAFCON stage, adding that it was not a fluke that they qualified for the last edition.

She disclosed that as players they have been having a conversation amongst themselves and one of the important thing they have picked was that their opponents were very physical and they depend largely on their winger.

She observed that Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya – the venue of the first leg – gave Harambee Starlets an advantage because the pitch was big and their opponents were used to it, hence they managed to play wide balls

“Now that we are home in our own stadium, we will be in control and dictate the tempo of the game for them,” she said.

Bosija said they were confident that at the end of the game it would be Batswana who would be celebrating.

She pointed out that morale in the camp was good, and the players were calm.

“We have experienced players such as Masego Montsho, Kesegofetse Mochawe, and Refilwe Tholakele who have all played in bigger stages. They will definitely come in handy in this game,” she said. Ends