Mpote leads in Zebras coaching race
The wheels are beginning to turn at Lekidi, as the search for the new Zebras coach gets underway. Thus far, names of potential replacement for Belgian Coach, Adel Amrouche are being tossed around.
On pole position is Orapa United and former Zebras’ Assistant Coach, Mogomotsi’ Teenage ‘ Mpote. There is no doubt that in most cases Mpote’s appointment to the job would be met with both pomp and fanfare as many crave for a local coach to be given this rare opportunity.
Appointing Mpote to the red hot seat is practically a no brainer to the Botswana Football Association ( BFA) as this will only show that they have renewed faith on local coaches and believe they have the capacity to lead the national team. The Ostriches’ gaffer has experience in the local game with a wide understanding of players and the systems that can work for the team.
Mpote led the Zebras to the 2019 COSAFA Tournament, following the sacking of the late Major David Bright. His triumph was short- lived when the much hyped Amrouche was appointed in August the same year to take on a three year project.
Mpote returned to Orapa United where he eventually won the Mascom Top 8 and the Orange FA Cup without fail. The soft spoken coach is revered by both local pundits and supporters alike, however the BFA turned a blind eye despite his growing success in local football.
For the job, Mpote doesn’t need any form of adjusting and understanding player profiles. It’s something that exists within him and will only need to tap into it and hit the ground running. This does not mean he will achieve all at once but will need a proper outline of the project and what it intends to achieve. Should Mpote get the support that all the foreign coaches like Peter Butler and Amrouche were getting, a good foundation would be set. Another option for the Zebras, which some may find less likely to happen will be the reunion of the Zebras with former coach Peter Butler. The Brit is no stranger to local football and has a way of influencing the association to avail resources wherever he goes. However, should he be brought back, he should have Mpote as his understudy to propel a long term project. It will be very important for the coach to be always surrounded by people who know the players better, and those should be local coaches; the likes of Daniel Nare, Letang Kgengwenyane, Luis Setshwane and Rapelang Tsatsilebe, among others
The culture of having a foreigner with some local full- time assistant coaches, will likely help to run a long term national team project. This is because such coaches will have a privilege to work closely with the coach that has been appointed, and take home a lot of knowledge and experience that will later benefit the national team.
Stanley Tshosane was practically an understudy under Vaselin Jelusic and Collen Rowe. Tshosane took over in 2010 and led the Zebras to the Afcon, in outmost fashion, beating the likes of Tunisia, Malawi and Chad to reach the Equatorial Guinea and Gabon hosted continental tournament. The Zebras has, in the past decade, hired and fired about four coaches, among them Stanely Tshosane, Peter Butler, David Bright and recently, Adel Amrouche.