BOTSWANA left for Cameroon yesterday to wrap up their preparations for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals, giving the nation hope that they will go beyond the group stages on debut.
"We are going to war," said coach Stanley Tshosane. "We have been given the mandate by President Ian Khama to make the country proud and we will do our best.
"Going to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon as underdogs is a blessing in disguise for us.
"We are not under pressure because many people on the continent are not giving us a chance to do well.
"When we started with the qualifiers we were told Botswana would finish at the bottom of the log in our group, which included giants like Tunisia and Togo.
"It is now history that we finished on top of the group. In fact, we were the first team to qualify for the tournament."
The Zebras start their Group D campaign on January 24 against joint title favourites Ghana.
This will be followed by matches against Equatorial Guinea and Mali, with the pool winners and runners-up advancing to the knockout stage.
Captain Dispy Selolwane has urged Batswana to have faith in the Zebras.
"We have been together for almost three years. This tournament affords us the opportunity to announce the arrival of Botswana in African soccer," Selolwane said.
"The tag of minnows is behind us. We want to see ourselves also regarded as one of the powerhouses of African soccer.
"Our plan for the tournament is to first do well in the group stages to qualify for the second round.
"Most of our players are aware the Afcon is a platform to market themselves, since the European talent scouts will also be there.
"Our message to Batswana and the rest of the southern Africa region is that you can count on us. We won't embarrass you," said Selolwane, who plays for SuperSport United.
Some of the other Zebras players based in South Africa include Selolwane's teammate at SuperSport United, Mogogi Gabonamong, Modiri Marumo of Bay United, Boitumelo Mafoko of Santos, Phenyo Mongala of Bloemfontein Celtic and Moemedi Moatlhaping of Bay United.
Zebras no lame ducks
BOTSWANA left for Cameroon yesterday to wrap up their preparations for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals, giving the nation hope that they will go beyond the group stages on debut.
"We are going to war," said coach Stanley Tshosane. "We have been given the mandate by President Ian Khama to make the country proud and we will do our best.
"Going to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon as underdogs is a blessing in disguise for us.
"We are not under pressure because many people on the continent are not giving us a chance to do well.
"When we started with the qualifiers we were told Botswana would finish at the bottom of the log in our group, which included giants like Tunisia and Togo.
"It is now history that we finished on top of the group. In fact, we were the first team to qualify for the tournament."
The Zebras start their Group D campaign on January 24 against joint title favourites Ghana.
This will be followed by matches against Equatorial Guinea and Mali, with the pool winners and runners-up advancing to the knockout stage.
Captain Dispy Selolwane has urged Batswana to have faith in the Zebras.
"We have been together for almost three years. This tournament affords us the opportunity to announce the arrival of Botswana in African soccer," Selolwane said.
"The tag of minnows is behind us. We want to see ourselves also regarded as one of the powerhouses of African soccer.
"Our plan for the tournament is to first do well in the group stages to qualify for the second round.
"Most of our players are aware the Afcon is a platform to market themselves, since the European talent scouts will also be there.
"Our message to Batswana and the rest of the southern Africa region is that you can count on us. We won't embarrass you," said Selolwane, who plays for SuperSport United.
Some of the other Zebras players based in South Africa include Selolwane's teammate at SuperSport United, Mogogi Gabonamong, Modiri Marumo of Bay United, Boitumelo Mafoko of Santos, Phenyo Mongala of Bloemfontein Celtic and Moemedi Moatlhaping of Bay United.
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