The Botswana Football Association (BFA) took a decision on Friday to appoint an interim coach for their FIFA calendar friendly against Zimbabwe on 5 March 2014.
This is after the nation had waited with bated breath to know who would replace fired national team coach, Stanley Tshosane.
Last year BFA advertised the post for the Zebras coach after firing Tshosane. The closing date for the post was on Wednesday and BFA had not yet shown that they had considered anyone for the post.
A final decision was then taken on Friday that Zebras would go to the next friendly with a caretaker coach.
“We have decided to appoint an interim coach for our next FIFA friendly but he has not yet been announced,” said BFA Chief Executive Officer Keith Masters.
There has been speculation that Tshosane’s second in command, Kenneth Mogae, might be the caretaker coach. And Masters did not rule out that possibility.
“He might be considered for the interim position as he has been with the national team for too long,” said Masters.
If Mogae is to be appointed it would make the BFA had acted hastily in firing the the entire technical team which Mogae was part of.
However BFA President, Tebogo Sebego, said he was not sure if Mogae would be appointed as a caretaker coach.
“People are already making guesswork, I am not sure about Mogae taking over as a caretaker coach,” said Sebego in an interview.
When explaining why there was a delay in appointing a full time coach, the BFA President said the delay may be because a chosen candidate would have to serve notice with their current employer.
Over 10 experienced individuals are said to have submitted their applications in a bid to take the hot seat, with several names cropping up as firm favourite.
Some of them include the likes of Gaborone United mentor, Major David Bright, considered among many soccer pundits as a suitable candidate because of his experience and bravery at international level.
Bright is also a local who understands local football, something that would take a foreign coach time to adapt to.
Serbian Milutin Sredjovis’s name has cropped time and again. He is the former coach of South African side, Orlando Pirates and is currently the coach of Uganda. He is reportedly a frustrated man in Uganda.
Serbia is where former Zebras coach, Jelusic Vesselin hails from.
East European coaches are known for their strong belief in football development, with plenty of much emphasis on the physical aspect of the game.
Another former Zebras coach, Colwyn Rowe, has been confirmed by BFA as one of the applicants for the post. Looking at his history with the association, many said he could bounce back. He is currently based in Egypt where he is a development coach for Egyptian side, Al Ahly.
