Mpote tipped for Zebras job
Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote is tipped to be appointed as the substantive Zebras coach, with the Botswana Football Association (BFA) CEO, Mfolo Mfolo indicating a decision will be made in three weeks. Mpote has been in charge on an interim basis since the departure of Adel Amrouche last year.
Sources said while Mpote has reverted to his role as Under-23 coach, he will get the nod for the senior team job as the association is too broke to appoint a foreign coach.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Mfolo said in three weeks, the association will have employed a substantive head coach, in time for the Zebras’ next friendly match at the end of this month. The Zebras are scheduled to take on Bafana Bafana on August 27 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mfolo also revealed that Mpote will return to his role as the national Under-23 coach as they prepare for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Young Zebras are set to take on Eswatini on September 23 as they kick-start the road to the Under-23 AFCON finals.
“Mpote was appointed the national Under-23 coach in 2018, which has never changed. At the senior national team, he was just engaged on an interim basis,” Mfolo told journalists.
Mfolo also said the Zebras would take on Bafana Bafana four days later in an international friendly match. Although he did not specify the date, he did state that the BFA is in the process of hiring a substantive head coach for the senior team and that it will be completed in three weeks.
Meanwhile, Mfolo also revealed that the association and Orange Botswana have agreed to extend their relationship, which will see the continuation of the Orange FA Cup. “We might also bring other corporates we have dealt with before,” he said. Mfolo also revealed that the BFA National Executive Committee (NEC) took a resolution last month to set up an ad-hoc committee that will specifically deal with the delimitation of regions.
“We currently have 17 and this committee will look at whether we should increase, decrease, or leave them at 17,” he said. He said the committee will consist of bloc representatives. He added they are still seeking the expertise of the Independent Electoral Commission and local government to assist in the process. The ad-hoc committee has been given up to December 31 to complete the process.