BAFANA COACH FACES SALARY CUT
AN eerie silence settles over Fairgrounds on a warm Thursday afternoon in Gaborone.
The quiet of the tiny suburb, north east of the Botswana capital, is in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city centre, which people are deserting en masse, heading home after work.
The silence is broken by a faint sound in the distance of footballers yelling and screaming during a training session.
Under way is the Botswana national team’s training session at the University Stadium in preparation for an upcoming World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana.
Apart from the TV crew working on an advert with some of the players and the university students, there’s no one to watch the Zebras go through their paces.
A day later, when Bafana train at the same venue, crowds arrive to watch. “Shabba! ” “Killer!” “Khune!” they shout as Siphiwe Tshabalala, Katlego Mphela and Itumeleng Khune trudge off the pitch.
To the outsider it’s clear that Bafana have a bigger following here – and all because of the Premier Soccer League matches on TV in Botswana.
“I can’t believe I’m seeing Shabba (Tshabalala).
“That was a wonderful goal he scored during the World Cup, hey, ” says an excited fan.
“The guy is more popular than the local players around here.
“Do you know that?
“I’m a huge Kaizer Chiefs fan. I never miss their game on the SuperSport channel.
“There’s this Chinese (man) who enables us to watch games free on pay TV. So we’re kept up to date with developments in South African football.”
South Africa’s players are TV stars here, while the local players are almost nobodies.
The local season isn’t over yet, but Mochudi Centre Chiefs have already won the league.
The league has attracted sponsorships, has sound financial backing and is being run professionally. But it lacks the exposure that the PSL enjoys in SA.
The apathy for the home team might have something to do with their dismal start in World Cup qualifiers, losing 2-0 to Central African Republic in Bangui, then drawing 1-1 with Bafana.
Though Bafana’s start was marginally better (two draws, no defeats – yet), the Batswana have a high regard for the SA team, up to the point of questioning the dismissal of Pitso Mosimane as
coach. “How can you fire Mosimane?” is the question Omphitlhetse Ntime, a hotel security guard, directs at this writer.
Before I can hastily point out that I am not a Safa official, the enthusiastic fellow is giving his “honest” opinion about the state of affairs in SA football.
He ignores my cutting glance, which is aimed at discouraging his overtures.
“Firing the coach won ’ t solve Bafana’s problems. The players should be made to take responsibility as well,” he continues enthusiastically, clearly hoping to solicit a response. I remain tight-lipped. “Mosimane could do no worse than Stan Tshosane (the Botswana coach),” says a Gaborone petrol attendant. “Botswana have been on a learning curve for far too long. “Stan did well to qualify us for the Afcon. But there’s still a long way to go for Botswana football.
“Just like Botswana, SA has a long way to go in re-establishing themselves as a football powerhouse on the continent.”