Highlanders; What went wrong with Young Africans?

(This was the team team)

We played a brilliant 2-2 draw in Dar es Salaam and needed to see the video of the match we had played in Tanzania. 

That video could not be made available as it was meant for "pay-per-view" at a location in the western remote part of town, a certain Shisa Nyama. I have not seen the video until now.

One advantage we had in Tanzania was the input of the Simba Football Club coach, Jamhuri Kihwelo, a former national team captain and a friend I had met in Brazil.

While not forthcoming with the information I needed as to how they defended or attacked, he shed light to a few possible tactics like their formation and their most influential players. I must admit the challenge of working with Rahman Rush Gumbo as head coach, Willard Khumalo as an assistant and Ernest Maphepha the Manager. 

These people had great playing history for the club in their distinguished careers. Gumbo had a work routine that only I wanted to improve. It worked for him before and he was comfortable with it.

Our training programs and schedules were solely a case of balancing the technical and tactical jobs and choosing the correct peak periods not to burn out before the climax or hitting peak after the climax of each period.

Rush was solely responsible for the results but we lost our jobs at the same time, despite getting the results. There was no one to blame.

The new Highlanders environment and the size of the responsibility for me were overwhelming. I had been Gumbo's coaching instructor in his coaching courses and therefore could not deputize him. It was two bulls in the same kraal, never easy on job ethics.

On the return leg against Yanga, our preparations were sluggish and arrogant. We trained less and the input was very average. The suggestion to practise penalties was scorned at because as coaches, we did not give the Tanzanians any chance against us.

We camped just after Windemere for most of the 2 weeks and moved to Cresta Churchill the night before the match. It was a very late arrangement to move camp. 

During the match, the right winger made a few dangerous entries into the final third on the right, and delivered a few crosses. We failed to rectify the situation, even though we had identified it early enough. 

I remember Barry Daka coming near the dug out and advising of the same, that the winger must be dealt with. Before he sat down, the cross was delivered and a header score to the far post.

A duplicate move resulted in the second goal later in the half. Players got desperate and fans got frustrated. Impatience in the attack made it difficult to get a goal. Anxiety and disbelief consumed the players and their energy levels dropped. 

Loss of concentration and desperation resulted in a penalty, with 5 minutes of play left. The fans had enough and ran onto the field in protest. I do not believe the penalty was genuine but the fans could not take another goal well.

The violence that followed the 3-0 loss at home in the return leg led to the ban in the Africa Champions League by the Confederation of African Football, CAF.

The beautiful game's sorry site

I travelled to Swaziland before hitting the highway to Botswana on a football fact-finding mission. The Swazis were very forth-coming and helpful and the Ba Tswana a little jittery and suspicious of my intentions. They kept their cards close to their chests as if I was there to steal their jobs.

The levels and standards of the game in each country is very low. The salaries are bad. Training grounds are grassless and very hard. For an idea, even the 3rd tier teams in South Africa and Zimbabwe have better training facilities. The school grounds of Mzansi are light-years ahead. I was really gutted.

In Swaziland, I met a long lost friend I first met a decade ago in Brazil. Boy Mkhonta is now Technical Director there, taking the reins from another Brazilian graduate, Sibandze. The man's passion has grown and he is doing a fantastic job and was extremely helpful.

I could not meet my other Brazilian classmate in Botswana. Ex-Zebras coach, Stanley Tshosane was too busy with personal affairs and all our appointments failed to materialise. He promised to make amends. There were also unsuccessful attempts to meet Rahman Gumbo and Madinda Ndlovu.

It was a privilege to have the time with Barry Daka and share some moments and catch up on our fruitful past together as coaches and administrators of the game. My feeling was that Mr Daka feels he did enough for football and that he was prepared to die on the pitch. The sad part is how the game treated him wherever he went.

Many people have raised concerns about the heroes of the game who made the people, city and country proud and yet they have nothing to show for it. There are many examples of players and coaches who only can show you scares that they received for the joy of their fans and nothing else. Few will have medals to prove their prowess then. Many struggle to have meals on the table for their families.

Could the blame be on the economy or their mismanagement of their own affairs? Is the environment not good enough to have the sportsmen and women live happily ever after? Can't the situation improve and who is responsible for the demise of the former heroes?

Rahman Gumbo and Willard Khumalo In Trouble?

Rahman Gumbo's Mochudi Centre Chiefs started the Be MOBILE Premier League in Botswana like a house on fire, scoring 12 goals in 2 matches. That wonderful run must have  drowned in complacency as evidenced by a shock 2-0 loss to Extension Gunners 2 weeks ago.

This was then followed by a 1-0 humiliating by struggling TAFIC at the Francistown Stadium, agitating Chiefs' supporters to uneasiness as they began to worry about their dominance being a thing of the past before it even began. Matters were not helped by the progress of their nearest rivals who were picking up points. ECCO City Greens, Township Rollers and Gaborone United suddenly found their voices and are giving Rush a run for his money.

However, Chiefs lost a key man to the ABSA Premier League debutants, Vasco da Gama of Cape Town. The  services of talented midfielder Dirang Moloi will take time to be filled despite the hard work Gumbo is putting into the team. Mochudi Centre Chiefs bounced back this week to register a 2-0 win over visiting Nico United at the University of Botswana (UB) Stadium.

Nico United, formerly coached by Madinda Ndlovu, are in dire need of form to pick up points themselves. Willard Mashinkila Khumalo's team, have seen their efforts rewarded here and there and their thin squad is now desperate to pick up essential points. Khumalo believes they got a valuable lesson in this fixture and are ready for the weekend. 

It was lamentable for Khumalo that the team conceded an injury time goal in the first half. The goals came courtesy of Lesego Galenamotlhale with virtually the last kick of the half. The second half saw Nico fluff easy chances. The inability to be clinical in front of goal saw Moemedi Moatlhaping seal the deal with 20 minutes of play remaining. While the expectations are too high from both camps, Gumbo and Khumalo are great visionaries who will undoubtedly steady their ships with time.

Meanwhile, the rise and rise of Botswana's Zebras is the talk and pride of Africa and FIFA. The Zebras clobbered Tunisia and Togo as well as playing to a draw with Malawi in the AFCON 2012 qualifiers. They beat Zimbabwe Warriors in a friendly match as well. Despite all that ground covered, the coach's head is on the block. Like all Africa administrators, that success is itching that they bring an expatriate coach form Europe to teach the Tswanas how to play football. Previous coaches from abroad only managed to milk Botswana of Pulas and nothing else, as they have done in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

You will remember that South Africa tasted AFCON success with a local coach. Zimbabwe qualified for the same tournament twice with local coaches. Foreign coaches failed to take these nations near to those glory days, yet the national associations are adamant in labelling that success as better than failure. They always bring in these coaches from abroad so that African coaches can learn. I think I am the mad one here. 

Do you suppose it is fair to criticise coaches after just 5 matches?

Rahman Gumbo and Willard Khumalo In Trouble?

Rahman Gumbo's Mochudi Centre Chiefs started the Be MOBILE Premier League in Botswana like a house on fire, scoring 12 goals in 2 matches. That wonderful run must have  drowned in complacency as evidenced by a shock 2-0 loss to Extension Gunners 2 weeks ago.

This was then followed by a 1-0 humiliating by struggling TAFIC at the Francistown Stadium, agitating Chiefs' supporters to uneasiness as they began to worry about their dominance being a thing of the past before it even began. Matters were not helped by the progress of their nearest rivals who were picking up points. ECCO City Greens, Township Rollers and Gaborone United suddenly found their voices and are giving Rush a run for his money.

However, Chiefs lost a key man to the ABSA Premier League debutants, Vasco da Gama of Cape Town. The  services of talented midfielder Dirang Moloi will take time to be filled despite the hard work Gumbo is putting into the team. Mochudi Centre Chiefs bounced back this week to register a 2-0 win over visiting Nico United at the University of Botswana (UB) Stadium.

Nico United, formerly coached by Madinda Ndlovu, are in dire need of form to pick up points themselves. Willard Mashinkila Khumalo's team, have seen their efforts rewarded here and there and their thin squad is now desperate to pick up essential points. Khumalo believes they got a valuable lesson in this fixture and are ready for the weekend. 

It was lamentable for Khumalo that the team conceded an injury time goal in the first half. The goals came courtesy of Lesego Galenamotlhale with virtually the last kick of the half. The second half saw Nico fluff easy chances. The inability to be clinical in front of goal saw Moemedi Moatlhaping seal the deal with 20 minutes of play remaining. While the expectations are too high from both camps, Gumbo and Khumalo are great visionaries who will undoubtedly steady their ships with time.

Meanwhile, the rise and rise of Botswana's Zebras is the talk and pride of Africa and FIFA. The Zebras clobbered Tunisia and Togo as well as playing to a draw with Malawi in the AFCON 2012 qualifiers. They beat Zimbabwe Warriors in a friendly match as well. Despite all that ground covered, the coach's head is on the block. Like all Africa administrators, that success is itching that they bring an expatriate coach form Europe to teach the Tswanas how to play football. Previous coaches from abroad only managed to milk Botswana of Pulas and nothing else, as they have done in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

You will remember that South Africa tasted AFCON success with a local coach. Zimbabwe qualified for the same tournament twice with local coaches. Foreign coaches failed to take these nations near to those glory days, yet the national associations are adamant in labelling that success as better than failure. They always bring in these coaches from abroad so that African coaches can learn. I think I am the mad one here. 

Do you suppose it is fair to criticise coaches after just 5 matches?

Rahman Gumbo and Willard Khumalo In Trouble?

Rahman Gumbo's Mochudi Centre Chiefs started the Be MOBILE Premier League in Botswana like a house on fire, scoring 12 goals in 2 matches. That wonderful run must have  drowned in complacency as evidenced by a shock 2-0 loss to Extension Gunners 2 weeks ago.

This was then followed by a 1-0 humiliating by struggling TAFIC at the Francistown Stadium, agitating Chiefs' supporters to uneasiness as they began to worry about their dominance being a thing of the past before it even began. Matters were not helped by the progress of their nearest rivals who were picking up points. ECCO City Greens, Township Rollers and Gaborone United suddenly found their voices and are giving Rush a run for his money.

However, Chiefs lost a key man to the ABSA Premier League debutants, Vasco da Gama of Cape Town. The  services of talented midfielder Dirang Moloi will take time to be filled despite the hard work Gumbo is putting into the team. Mochudi Centre Chiefs bounced back this week to register a 2-0 win over visiting Nico United at the University of Botswana (UB) Stadium.

Nico United, formerly coached by Madinda Ndlovu, are in dire need of form to pick up points themselves. Willard Mashinkila Khumalo's team, have seen their efforts rewarded here and there and their thin squad is now desperate to pick up essential points. Khumalo believes they got a valuable lesson in this fixture and are ready for the weekend. 

It was lamentable for Khumalo that the team conceded an injury time goal in the first half. The goals came courtesy of Lesego Galenamotlhale with virtually the last kick of the half. The second half saw Nico fluff easy chances. The inability to be clinical in front of goal saw Moemedi Moatlhaping seal the deal with 20 minutes of play remaining. While the expectations are too high from both camps, Gumbo and Khumalo are great visionaries who will undoubtedly steady their ships with time.

Meanwhile, the rise and rise of Botswana's Zebras is the talk and pride of Africa and FIFA. The Zebras clobbered Tunisia and Togo as well as playing to a draw with Malawi in the AFCON 2012 qualifiers. They beat Zimbabwe Warriors in a friendly match as well. Despite all that ground covered, the coach's head is on the block. Like all Africa administrators, that success is itching that they bring an expatriate coach form Europe to teach the Tswanas how to play football. Previous coaches from abroad only managed to milk Botswana of Pulas and nothing else, as they have done in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

You will remember that South Africa tasted AFCON success with a local coach. Zimbabwe qualified for the same tournament twice with local coaches. Foreign coaches failed to take these nations near to those glory days, yet the national associations are adamant in labelling that success as better than failure. They always bring in these coaches from abroad so that African coaches can learn. I think I am the mad one here. 

Do you suppose it is fair to criticise coaches after just 5 matches?

Rahman Gumbo and Willard Khumalo In Trouble?

Rahman Gumbo's Mochudi Centre Chiefs started the Be MOBILE Premier League in Botswana like a house on fire, scoring 12 goals in 2 matches. That wonderful run must have  drowned in complacency as evidenced by a shock 2-0 loss to Extension Gunners 2 weeks ago.

This was then followed by a 1-0 humiliating by struggling TAFIC at the Francistown Stadium, agitating Chiefs' supporters to uneasiness as they began to worry about their dominance being a thing of the past before it even began. Matters were not helped by the progress of their nearest rivals who were picking up points. ECCO City Greens, Township Rollers and Gaborone United suddenly found their voices and are giving Rush a run for his money.

However, Chiefs lost a key man to the ABSA Premier League debutants, Vasco da Gama of Cape Town. The  services of talented midfielder Dirang Moloi will take time to be filled despite the hard work Gumbo is putting into the team. Mochudi Centre Chiefs bounced back this week to register a 2-0 win over visiting Nico United at the University of Botswana (UB) Stadium.

Nico United, formerly coached by Madinda Ndlovu, are in dire need of form to pick up points themselves. Willard Mashinkila Khumalo's team, have seen their efforts rewarded here and there and their thin squad is now desperate to pick up essential points. Khumalo believes they got a valuable lesson in this fixture and are ready for the weekend. 

It was lamentable for Khumalo that the team conceded an injury time goal in the first half. The goals came courtesy of Lesego Galenamotlhale with virtually the last kick of the half. The second half saw Nico fluff easy chances. The inability to be clinical in front of goal saw Moemedi Moatlhaping seal the deal with 20 minutes of play remaining. While the expectations are too high from both camps, Gumbo and Khumalo are great visionaries who will undoubtedly steady their ships with time.

Meanwhile, the rise and rise of Botswana's Zebras is the talk and pride of Africa and FIFA. The Zebras clobbered Tunisia and Togo as well as playing to a draw with Malawi in the AFCON 2012 qualifiers. They beat Zimbabwe Warriors in a friendly match as well. Despite all that ground covered, the coach's head is on the block. Like all Africa administrators, that success is itching that they bring an expatriate coach form Europe to teach the Tswanas how to play football. Previous coaches from abroad only managed to milk Botswana of Pulas and nothing else, as they have done in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

You will remember that South Africa tasted AFCON success with a local coach. Zimbabwe qualified for the same tournament twice with local coaches. Foreign coaches failed to take these nations near to those glory days, yet the national associations are adamant in labelling that success as better than failure. They always bring in these coaches from abroad so that African coaches can learn. I think I am the mad one here. 

Do you suppose it is fair to criticise coaches after just 5 matches?