Grateful Mpote wants Zebras to use Bafana as a ladder up the rankings

Newly-appointed Botswana national team coach Mogomotsi œTeenage Mpote has expressed his appreciation to the South African Football Association (SAFA) for inviting the Zebras to play Bafana Bafana in an international friendly at the FNB Stadium tonight (18:00).

It™s been 14 years since the two teams last met in an international friendly match, their previous meetings in this period having been in the COSAFA Cup and World Cup qualifiers.

"We are so happy that South Africa recognises Botswana to come and play them. Playing Bafana Bafana and having these young boys who have been admiring some of the boys in Bafana Bafana is massive, says Mpote."

Botswana, who are currently bottom of Group J in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with one point from two matches, next face Equatorial Guinea in back-to-back fixtures in March next year.

Mpote, who was recently appointed to lead the squad, says this match forms part of preparations for those matches but adds that they want to win this game to improve their ranking.

"This match will help us n the rankings" he said during the pre-match press conference "it will help us improve our rankings because we are trying to push so that in future we are at least in the too 30 to top 20."

The Zebras are currently ranked 45th on the continent and 146th in the world, positions that see them hardly considered when too countries look for quality opposition.

Mpote would love to see that changing: "That (being in the too 30) will help in that when you look for friendly games they will not demand much saying you are just ordinary. If you improve your rankings, teams will now look to challenge and okay you. And they will look at the players in the squad and that will be good for us."

To improve their rankings though, Botswana will have to get the better of a Bafana side that is sure to work on to the pitch cock-a-hoop following their resounding 4-0 defeat of Sierra Leone.

Mpote watched that match and relishes leading his boys to testing themselves against Hugo Broos' men.

"We saw Bafana Bafana play Sierra Leone and we saw a lot of positives. We are saying it will be good good for us (to play them). We will get experience from it.

We are intending to give it our best."

By Velile Mnyandu