Off the wire
• Portuguese soccer league result  • Brazil's Scheidt gets Pan American Games call-up  • Chicago agricultural commodities up on short covering, Argentine worker strikes  • Loss of Ramadi to Islamic State a "setback", says U.S.  • World must redouble efforts on sustainable energy goals: UN-backed report  • Commentary: Fatal gang shootout stark reminder of failed U.S. gun policy  • White House bans police from using certain military-style equipment  • (Recast) 1st LD: Chinese premier arrives in Brazil for official visit  • Finland to send 50 soldiers to Iraq training Kurdish forces against IS  • Britain's smaller political parties launch electoral reform petition  
You are here: 　 Home

Determined Botswana leaves for COSAFA regional football tourney

Xinhua, May 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Botswana's national soccer team, the Zebras were oozing with confidence on Monday as they departed for neighboring South Africa for the 2015 Confederation of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA).

Botswana will play South Africa's Bafana Bafana in the quarterfinal of the tournament scheduled for next Sunday.

Speaking to the media before the team's departure, Botswana coach Peter Butler said he has a lot of confidence in his team despite going into the final as underdogs against the much fancied hosts South Africa.

He added that the team has been preparing vigorously for the tie and he has a good blend of young talent and experience that is capable of bringing good results.

Butler travels with six players from the national under-23 team that recently played Kenya in a two legged Africa Championship tie. He said he has been familiarizing the youngsters with other players who have been in the team before and he was confident they are ready to tackle Bafana Bafana.

Butler received a boost as he now has all the players at his disposal after the local soccer league came to an end. He said some players had to leave camp to represent their clubs, but fortunately no one returned with any serious injuries.

Another boost was the availability of South African based players as the South African league also came to an end last weekend. Butler said they are going to give South Africa a run for their money and their intention was to reach the semi finals of the tournament.

Meanwhile the COSAFA cup kicked off on Sunday with teams playing preliminary games. Botswana got a pass to the quarterfinal due to their higher ranking in the region at the time the draw of the tournament was made.

This year's tournament sees 14 teams competing, with 12 from the region and two invitational teams in Ghana and Tanzania. The rest of the countries are Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, Swaziland, Seychelles, Mozambique and Namibia. Endi