Botswana’s magic rewarded
by Emeka Enyadike 23 December 2011, 12:06
Botswana’s fairytale year continued on Thursday night in Accra, Ghana when they were announced as the African team of the year at the Glo-Caf Awards, great reward for qualifying for their first Africa Nations Cup.
Botswana came through a difficult group comprising former African Champions, Tunisia, Togo who had been to the 2006 World cup, Malawi, a regional power and Chad.
The “Zebras” topped the group earning beating Tunisia 1-0 home and away, Chad, also home and away and Togo at home; a 1-1 draw away with Malawi meant that they needed just a draw at home to Malawi to qualify with a game in hand. A 1-0 loss in that game away to Togo meant nothing as they still.
What has made their achievements more spectacular was the fact that most of the team played in the Botswana Premier league unlike their more accomplished opponents with more experienced players.
Head coach, Stanley Tshosane may have lost the coach of the year narrowly to Harouna Doula, coach of another surprise qualifier, Niger but it is to his credit that he put together a disciplined playing unit.
They recently showed how far they are determined to hold their own against the best in Africa by holding Nigeria 0-0 at home in a friendly.
Now, it’s all to play for and as they round up preparations in South Africa before heading off to Qatar and Cameroon in January, and onwards to Franceville, Gabon, venue of the difficult Afcon Group D.
They will not have the luxury of being tagged under-dogs any more as all eyes will be on Botswana at and they must contend with even more dangerous opposition in four times Champions Ghana, Mali and Guinea.
For now, all of Botswana will savour their greatest moment in history .
AWARDS WINNERS
African Player of the Year 2011
Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Cote d’Ivoire)
African Player of the Year 2011 (Based in Africa)
Oussama Darragi (Esperance Sportive de Tunis and Tunisia)
National Team of the Year
Botswana
Women’s National Team of the Year
Cameroon
Club of the Year
Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
Most Promising Talent of the Year
Souleymane Coulibaly (Tottenham Hotspurs and Cote d’Ivoire)
Coach of the Year
Harouna Doula (Niger)
Women’s Footballer of the Year
Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria)
Referee of the Year
Noumandiez Doue (Cote d’Ivoire)
Legend Award
Mustapha Hadji (Morocco)
Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha (Nigeria)
Fair Play Award
Libya
Platinum Award
John Evans Atta Mills (President of Ghana)
Africa’s Finest XI
Goalkeeper: Samir Aboud (Libya)
Defenders: Harrison Afful (Ghana), Banana Yaya (Cameroon), Ayoub Elkhiqi (Morocco), Taye Taiwo (Nigeria)
Midfielder: Kevin Prince Boateng (Ghana), Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire), Seydou Keita (Mali), Andre Ayew (Ghana)
Forward: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Moussa Sow (Senegal)