Ramoreboli: Botswana should accept it wasn’t meant to be in COSAFA Cup

Ramoreboli (2nd left): Photo Credit: Botswana Football Association.

Botswana’s senior national football team coach, Morena Ramoreboli, says the Zebras should accept "it was not meant to be" after exiting the COSAFA Cup prematurely in South Africa on Wednesday.

The South African coach was left feeling frustrated after playing out to a 3-3 draw with the Chipolopolo in Bloemfontein, with both teams bowing out of the competition.

“Honestly speaking, I can’t fault the effort; the boys gave their all. It is just unfortunate that we could be sitting here and say: ‘but we could have done this way.’ Unfortunately, we need to accept that it was not meant to be,” he told COSAFA media.

It was a game the former Jwaneng Galaxy coach felt was decided by set-pieces, adding that they are difficult to manage even after sound preparations.

“I think we conceded the three goals from set-pieces because they scored two goals from penalties and they got one goal from a corner kick,” he said.

“Those are moments in a match that, as much as you prepare the team, you cannot anticipate that they will get a corner kick, or they will get a penalty. You might anticipate that they will get a corner, but you cannot anticipate that they will get a penalty.”

The Zebras started the tournament with a 0-0 draw against Comoros, before Wednesday's 3-3 draw against Zambia.