FRANCISTOWN: The Zebras supporters eagerly await a David versus Goliath clash in the form of the national team taking on the mighty Les Aigles of Mali at the Francistown Sport Complex on Saturday.

In random interviews around town, the supporters believe the Francistown stadium is a fortress that will always yield positives for the Zebras. “This is not just a common stadium.  It is blessed by the great God of Bakalanga.   ‘Ke stadium sa ga Ngwale’. If Mali is a mountain we are going to climb it.  Since the beginning of the week we have been dressing for the Zebras, and we will be dressed like this until after the game.  I predict a 2-1 win,” said Kabelo Tanyala, a combi driver.

Mbakiso Star, 23, and Keorapetse Makhokhoba, 22, both hawkers said they had just been discussing the game and secured tickets for the weekend encounter. Star said he wishes Segolame Boy comes in for Hendrick Moyo.  “If the coach could introduce Boy alongside Tsotso, then we will have no doubts in our attack. Boy has a magic touch and he can finish calmly.

Of course Moyo is a great player, but he is too wasteful.  Maybe if he comes in as a sub, he will score.  I predicted a 1-0 against Burkina Faso, I also predict the same for this game,” he said. However, another supporter, John Tabojosi, 26, has more faith in Peter Butler’s charges.

“That team will take us far.  I trust our coach’s strategies and our best 11. Moyo is our key player whether he scores or not he must start.

“We might have lost to Mali previously, but that was then. This is a different ball game altogether; different strategies, different players and different stadium. We are going to shock Mali 3-0.  10 am Saturday I am getting in the stadium.   I will have my lunch there, teams will find me,” said an excited Tabojosi.

Forty—five-year-old street Vendor, Galentlogele Tshola said: “I want to go there and do business. I have picked a ‘No’ on two occasions, but I will try my luck again”.

“It’s not a problem if I miss out I have my ticket ready and I want to see my heroes.  I want to see Ditsile (Lebogang). That boy plays good football.  He is my best player,” she said. Meanwhile, 26-year-old Portia Rasebopeng, a hawker selling Zebras regalia, said she has been experiencing good sales since Monday. “I have been selling here for over a month now, but since Monday I have had good sales. People are buying and T-shirts are the most sought-after items. I sell everything from wigs, bands, sunglasses, flags, chitenges and a lot more.

“On Saturday I won’t be selling.  It’s Zebras business and I will be watching the game. We are going to win 3-0,” she predicted.

source: Mmegi