The Botswana Football Association (BFA) has this week advertised the senior national team coach’s position following the ending of Peter Butler’s contract.
Butler’s deal comes to an end next week and pundits reckon the association to be pulling yet another facade. The position was advertised in local newspapers just after Butler flew out with the national team to Tanzania for an international friendly.
However, Sunday Standard has learnt that despite adverts on local newspapers, Butler is bound to prolong his stay in Botswana as national team gaffer. Close sources have revealed that the advert is procedural so as to make it easy for the Brit manager to gun up requirement for a work permit.
‘’The BFA is not searching for a coach; Butler will continue as the head coach. There would be no other candidates hence the advert runs for a short space of time.
“BFA president Mclean Letshwiti and Butler share a common ground of development and with the little that the Briton has done in terms of exposing youngsters; it is just protocol to advertise the post. Negotiations with Butler are also at an advanced stage which gives him an advantage to the position,” a close source told Sunday Standard.
While the advertisement deadline is on March 31, 2017, the post will have been advertised in a space of seven working days, making it hard for interested coaches to submit their application. As it stands, only two coaches residing in Botswana qualify for the job that requires top notch coaching license.
Current gaffer, Butler has under his belt the UEFA C, B, Advanced UEFA A/ UEFA-Pro license while local Keitumetse “Pio” Paul has acquired the German B coaching license which is equivalent to the CAF A license, a degree in Physical Education and Masters of Arts in Sports Development and Coaching from Cardiff University.
The post requires a candidate with UEFA-Pro license or equivalent, preferably with a degree in Sports Science and demonstrated experience coaching at elite level, with at least six years coaching senior national teams.
In an interview with Sunday Standard, BFA spokesperson Tumo Mpatane downplayed the advertisement timeframe narrating that it was adequate for all aspiring candidates to apply for the post.
‘’We believe that the time is adequate and would not hinder anyone wishing to apply for the position. Even Butler is required to apply for the position if he is interested and as the current head coach it might turn out that he is at an advantage but will have to satisfy the needs of the association,” Mpatane said.
