By Hikabwa Decius Chipande in Gaborone, Botswana
Saturday, March 26, 2011, was a day of jubilation in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana. The Zebras — Botswana’s national football team –- made history by qualifying for next year’s African Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. The Zebras boasted an unbeaten record after defeating Tunisia and Togo — teams with World Cup finals experience — and needed three points in N’Djamena against hosts Chad to qualify for the first time for the prestigious biennial tournament. Botswana accomplished this task, amazingly, with two games to spare after beating Chad 1-0 and topping their qualification group with 16 points.
The day of the match between Botswana and Chad was full of excitement in Gaborone. A lot of people wore national football team regalia, while national colors adorned public transport buses and private cars. The mood in the city was electric and expectant such that one would think that the match was being played at the National Stadium in Gaborone.
When the match started, people watched it indoors on Botswana Television while motorists listened to radio commentary in their vehicles. Hundreds of people watched the match live on huge television screens erected in Fair Grounds in the middle of the city, courtesy of Orange — the mobile phone service provider and official sponsor of the national team. When the match started the city was quiet; one could only hear radio and television commentary echoing through the air.
Then in the 54th minute fans exploded in celebration when Botswana’s Jerome Ramatlhakwana scored. After the final whistle, there was euphoria in Gabs. A lot of people came out of their homes jumping and singing, while motorists were honking in all directions. The Botswana Football Association President, Mr. David Fan, pointed out that this qualification was long overdue and it means a lot for football in Botswana. “The people of Botswana have long been waiting for this moment. The fact that we have achieved this feat is a huge cause for celebrations,” said Mr. Fani.
For a country of about 1.8 million people, the historic win in Chad is no random occurrence. After the game, an overjoyed Stan Tshosane, the national team coach, thanked the team for their relentless effort and meticulous preparations. “It’s a culmination of hard work,” said Tshosane; “We knew what we were doing from the onset.”
The Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr. Shaw Kgathi, gave a statement in Parliament assuring the Zebras and the country’s football fans that the government of Botswana would continue funding and supporting the preparations for the 2012 African Nations Cup. The victorious Zebras will be given an official welcome reception by the President, Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, on April 8 in Gaborone.
