TT footballers draw 0-0 with Botswana

GABORONE : Trinidad and Tobago’s footballers stayed unbeaten on their tour of Southern Africa when they drew 0-0 with Botswana at the National Stadium in Gaborone yesterday.

The encounter turned out to be TT’s toughest of their four matches so far since arriving in Kenya  on May 27. But once again failure to put away the scoring chances proved to be the Caribbean players’ downfall in front of the 5,000-odd fans. There was also a “Trini” posse of about 30 fans backed by a noisy rhythm section. Playing against a Botswana team coming off a slim 1-0 loss to Libya in an African Cup of Nations Qualifier last Saturday, TT never let their guards down. However a win was theirs for the taking on the eve of a trip to Port Elizabeth for the more important international against South Africa on Saturday. Silvio Spann, playing just behind strikers Nigel Pierre and Hector Sam in a 3-4-3 system, proved to be a weapon in TT’s play that should have done more damage, maybe with a more luck involved. The former Italy-based player had Botswana goalkeeper Kagso Thelamesi rising to the occasions as he whipped several inswingers from both flanks.

The second half saw Botswana contented on packing more in defence and TT’s chances on goal were limited. TT’s performance was good enough to leave Miss Botswana 2003 Boingotlo Motlalekgosi smiling as she viewed the match from the covered section. “For me, I think your guys did well. Hopefully they can keep it up in your next match against South Africa,” she said.. Coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier hopes his team can get it better come next Saturday on the back of other 1-1 and 2-0 results in Kenya and a 1-0 win in Soweto. The TT contingent leaves for Johannesburg by bus today from where they will then have a one hour flight to Port Elizabeth.

TT line up. Jan Michael Williams, Reynold Carrington, Keyeno Thomas, Brent Sancho, Silvio Spann (Conrad Smith, 88th), Travis Mulraine, Carlos Edwards, Hector Sam (Jason Scotland, 80th), Nigel Pierre, Dale Saunders, and Nigel Daniel
Subs not used: Derek King, Peter Ramon Fortune, Kerwyn Jemmot, Avery John, Anton Pierre. (Clayton Ince and Colin Samuel were out with abdominal and ankle injuries respectively.)