BFA not confirming Mpote
has engaged Mpote on ‘interim’ basis. “Most of our coaches have been employed by local clubs, we respect Orapa United and we engaged them for Mpote to serve on part time basis,” BFA Technical Director, Tshepo Mphokothi said. Quizzed on the long term plans to appoint Mpote on a permanent contract, Mphokothi insisted that they have only tasked the gaffer to lead the team for the upcoming two legged tie against Eretria, which is set to be played next month. “At the moment, we’ve tasked Mpote to win the upcoming two matches and after that we will sit down and decide on the way forward. The association is still considering options on who will become the senior team coach,” he shared. Amrouche reportedly earned close to P250 000 a month, and the BFA’s move to appoint Mpote on interim basis is seen by many football observers as a ploy by the association to have him feed on crumbs. In recent months, BFA were reportedly broke following alleged misuse of funds, which attracted the interest of FIFA whose four men delegation to Botswana upon their investigations, concluded that there was rather misallocation of funds. “That is not the case, it’s not about money, he is contracted by Orapa and we have to respect that,” Mphokothi responded.
The association’s top technical member added that they are aware of local talents of coaches. He said the local tacticians who have shown interest to lead the Zebras will be given a fair chance to lead the team.
Stanley Tshosane became the first coach to qualify the team to the AFCON finals in 2012, and recent success of Senegal, who are managed by a local coach, have once again amplified calls for African nations to put trust in local coaches. Following the Zebras’ enterprising and brave display in South Africa, it was expected that Mpote will land the then Botswana Football Association (BFA) head coach vacant post. Minster of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development at the time, Tshekedi Khama, backed Mpote to be appointed the national team head coach on permanent basis.
Khama argued that the association had invested in the gaffer and he had shown his capacity to lead the team and therefore deserved the chance. The Minister was well aware of the BFA’s top brass reluctance to appoint Mpote as they preferred a foreign coach to lead the side. During the welcome ceremony of the team at Oasis Hotels, Khama opined that, “there is more politics in sport than there is in parliament,” A few weeks down the line, Mpote found himself as an assistant to the Algerian born, Belgian based Adel Amorouche, who sat only twice alongside the Orapa United boss before showing him the exit door. Amorouche parted ways with BFA last year and the senior national team head coach post remains vacant.