Zebras’ head coach Stanley Tshosane does not regret his decision not to honour the proposed international friendly game against Egypt in Cairo on February 29.
Tshosane told the Botswana Football Association (BFA) that there was no team to travel, something which earned him lots of criticism from the football community.
Some football commentators accused Tshosane of thinking that he is bigger than Botswana football just because he qualified the Zebras for AFCON. Tshosane said he is not moved because Batswana have not been told the truth of the matter.
The Egyptian Football Federation offered to pay the costs of the trip to Cairo and the players’ allowances.
“I understand the frustration of the supporters but the truth of the matter was that we could not travel because there was no peace in the team (at African Nations Cup). The players felt that the BFA has not addressed their issues, which according them, showed that the association was not taking them seriously,” said Tshosane.
The Zebras gaffer said he communicated with BFA technical director Sonnyboy Sethibe while they were still in Gabon that the friendly could not go ahead considering the circumstances. He added that Sethibe agreed with him to call off the game but Sethibe was quoted in the media claiming that the coach took the decision without consultation.
“It has been hard to motivate the players at AFCON and I was slowly becoming their enemy because I kept on pushing them to play. There is a need for BFA to resolve a number of issues when it comes to players’ welfare before the next qualifiers,” continued Tshosane.
On why he did not opt for players who were not in Gabon for the Cairo clash, he cited lack of fitness as the reason as they were inactive during AFCON. On the reports that he is demanding P100, 000 per month as his salary, Tshosane responded, “I’ve never made that demand, I think that was careless reporting by a journalist. BFA approached me before we went to AFCON but nothing was agreed on. I’m still waiting for them (association) to come to me with an offer, that’s when we’ll sit and talk,” he said.
Tshosane added that before signing a new contract, he has some issues to address with the BFA and its leadership is aware of that. He pointed that the delay in agreeing new terms is not because of money as people have been made to believe.
“If BFA should have attended some of the things I outlined in my road map, some of the things which happened during AFCON could not have happened,” he said.
Tshosane’s contract comes to an end this month but BFA have not approached him about a new contract. Whether or not the association is looking for a new gaffer beyond the borders, only time will tell.
