Immediately after his arrival at Notwane, Paul Moyo steered Notwane to an unprecedented Kabelano tournament victory. The cup eluded him during his successful stay at Notwane in the mid and late nineties. The man, who is dubbed the Godfather of Notwane, seems to be on his way to once again take the team where it belongs, winning almost everything on offer. Currently, Moyo is eying the lucrative Coca-Cola Cup which Notwane have won a record three times. When Notwane won it on the two occasions in 1995 and 1997, it was Moyo who was at the helm.
Moyo is now on the way to making his own history by also winning it for the third time with Notwane. He would also be the second coach in Botswana to do so after Major David Bright, who won it with Mogoditshane Fighters. Moyo is already on his way to clinching the cup because Notwane is already in the semifinals after overcoming some of the teams that used to give them headaches. Notwane have also won some of their Coca Cola games unconvincingly. They are vulnerable, especially at the back where they are missing the services of several of their defenders.
“It was difficult in the past games because some of our defenders are injured while others are on suspension. But I had to put some youngsters into the deep end and they did not disappoint me. Sometimes also if you have been in the game for a long time, you have to always have other plans and that’s what I did and I hope we will continue to do the same in upcoming games,” he said.
During the time when Notwane won the Coca-Cola twice in three years, Moyo had incredible players who possessed unique skills. The players included the likes of the late Madonsela Ngaka, Maybin Chama, Terrence Mophuting, Thazo Tiwayi, Agaisanyang ‘Barcos’ Mosimanegape, Noah ‘Stooge’ Kareng, Fabian Zulu and Masauso Tembo. Zulu and Mosimanegape are still sweating it out with Notwane. Currently, Notwane has enterprising youngsters who are hungry for success. Moyo, however, opines that despite their recent victories there are huge challenges ahead for the team. He said if the team is to return to its years of glory then a lot still needs to be done.
“In the nineties, I had great warriors who were willing to die for the team. Currently, my main worry is the erratic training turn-up and we need to address it seriously. Training what really determines whether we succeed or not. Currently, Notwane is full of youngsters and many of them are not employed. This then means possibilities for them to join other teams are high compared to the previous years whereby most players were working and had little worry about joining other teams for greener pastures,” he said.
It was also under the tutelage of Moyo in 1996 that Notwane became the first local team to make it to the last 16 of the Confederation of African Football Winners Cup. Notwane were edged out by Angolan side Premeiro de Agosto. De Agosto had to sweat to beat Notwane because Notwane forced a goalless draw away in Luanda only to lose at home despite fighting like wounded lions. Moyo can also be remembered for taking Notwane out of the league doldrums in 1996. He won the championships after 12 years trying.
At the time of going to press, Notwane were yet to know their opponents for the semifinals because other quarter final matches were in progress. Notwane, together with Boteti, were the only teams in the semi-finals while Rollers were yet to play Ecco City Greens with BMC up against Mochudi Centre Chiefs. All the teams are tricky for Notwane and they would have to double their efforts to defeat them.
Notwane are also the Coca-Cola Cup defending champions after winning the controversial one last year against BDF XI.
