HOME > AFCON 2012 > NEWS > MOGOGI GABONAMONG WELL MAKE BOTSWANA PROUD AT 2012 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Mogogi Gabonamong: We'll make Botswana proud at 2012 Africa Cup of Nations

Gino: We'll make Botswana proud

Posted: 2012-01-23 17:05

Botswana utility player Mogogi Gabonamong says the country will not just be making up the numbers at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

Botswana have improved steadily in the past few years, culminating in the country qualifying for their major tournament – the Afcon, hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Gabonamong and his teammates will take on Ghana at the Stade de Franceville in Gabon on Tuesday evening and, despite vast differences between the two countries, Gabonamong is confident of a result.

Botswana are ranked 94th in the world, while Ghana occupy 26th spot and on paper, the Black Stars are favourites, but that does not bother the Zebras midfielder in any way.

"Ghana will be a test of character, because they are strong side. Take nothing from them, they are one of the favourites, but it stands us in good stead to be regarded as the underdogs," 'Gino' tells KickOff.com.

"It is a first time experience for all of us and we are focused on doing well … we don't have big names, but we work as a team," Gabonamong cautions.

Gabonamong also reveals the reason behind asking for jersey number 18 at his South African club, SuperSport United.

"I asked my team to use the number 18 jersey, which has been my national team jersey number for years, and the request I made to SuperSport was on the basis that it was my way of thanking the people of Botswana for the support they give me.

"My thoughts are with them wherever I play and I'm thankful to my country at large for the opportunity," he says.

Meanwhile, Gino has refrained from commenting on the differences the players had with the Botswana Football Association [BFA] over incentives.

"I don't want to talk about that. We put it behind us and we are concentrating on doing the country proud," Gabonamong adds.

The payment row stemmed from the players' demands of 100 000 Pula (+/-R108 000) from the BFA for every member of the final 23-man squad, plus a R16 000 bonus per win, and R8 000 per draw for the group stages.

However, the players eventually relented when BFA insisted they had no money.

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btsaanang : 2012-01-23 17:38

Suppersport is going to loose these boy afer afcon to a team overseas. Watch this space

Mpho : 2012-01-23 17:38

Go Zebra! Southern Africa is behind u & Zambia. We want u two in a CHIPOLOPOLO vs Zebra final. The Southern Africa DERBY. Go get them Gino. Angola & Zambia won and are top of their groups. It's your turn to complete the hat trick for us

Sweyts : 2012-01-23 17:43

Once again wishing our tjatjarag, noisy neighbours the best of luck, you can't be the first to qualify for nothing, Zebras 4 lyf!

MeyeDeDon: 2012-01-23 18:23

GA LE MPOTSA KE TLA ARABA,GA LE MPOTSA KE TLA IKARABELA,PITSE E TILODI KE TLA IPELA KA YONE....
TAU E TSOFETSENG,E TSHWENNGWA KE MARUMO,GA ENA LEBELO,GA E ITSE BOLO,PITSE E TILODI RE TLA IPELA KA YONE
AFRICA LE RE BOTSE RE TLA ARABA........

Tolly.ba.Thathe : 2012-01-23 21:59

I can only say...those who undermine you surely they do that at their own peril.

What Zambia and Angola did bears testimony to that...they were both regarded as underdogs not only by their opponents but by the book makers as well but what happened? You know what happened...!

Ke ntse ke re pula...a e ne Batswana...(I hope the commentator who once called a Botswana player "a Botswanan" can learn how to call a Botswana national...).

Totalfootball : 2012-01-23 23:25

You guys have our full support.we are proud of you.you must beat Ghana to set a new standard.God bless you.

AzraEzra: 2012-01-24 01:28

my people from the south u all know that the always come from the WEST..

AzraEzra: 2012-01-24 01:42

my people from the South you all know that the Best always come from the WEST...WESTSIDE BABY...KNOW PLACE LIKE THE WESTSIDE. It is this Ghana Team billed you the south people when You people Hosted the Worldcup 2010...When Hope was lost in the Africa in 2010 worldcup this Ghana team raised to the occation...wipe the tears of african people...you even called it BA***HANA JUST TO HAVE SOME NAME OF GHANA.
IF BOTSWANA DONT Want to be outplayed then they should defend all the time...only this can help them...otherwise they will regret playing against Ghana. lets be truth to ourselves.

makolobe (ghanzi bot) : 2012-01-24 05:43

past s past, we are rewriting history from 2day. No STARS or with stars zebras stl graze. Majita distance s not a barrier we are behind you. Shapa dipitse shapa!!!

Botswanian4life: 2012-01-24 08:03

are ipelegeng Bagaetsho,thanx 2 our Sothern African counterparts 4 their support,le kamoso betsho,tiro e boela baruting *mourning 4 Ghana*

Tsaya thobane re bolaele..re baruti molao..

afcon 2012 4 Sothern Africa,wa rata kana gao rate..sale re emetse, its being long time

Proudly Zebra

Itunes22: 2012-01-24 08:17

Ghana will win the match by a 3-0 scoreline if not more.Whilst im a Southener who would love to see a good outing on the part of Zebras,i guess i'd rather play it safe & put my money on Ghana.Whilst the Zebras have done really well for theselves,i simply cant believe they can pull an upset against a star studded Black Stars!No offence guys,its just the way i see it!

brazilitto : 2012-01-24 08:25

Make us proud boyz b4 the young lions send a military team to remove all yo puppets players.
Truth speaking u deserve to be there and u should be proud of dat. 4get what the dummy boys from double banana land say about yo achievements.
Just play yo normal game konke kuzahampa sharp!
Don't do de benni"afcon steleka"MaCafe lol lol

Murenzu: 2012-01-24 08:27

Shapa dipitsi tsa naga (Zebras) shapaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Tsholo : 2012-01-24 09:13

today is th day we make history.Ghana tshaba koo.Dipitse tsa naga ke tseo!!!!!!!
Shapaaaaaaa Zebras Shapaaaaa!!

WILLARD: 2012-01-24 11:02

if zim managed to beat Ghana at afcon 2006 why cant Bots do the same?
Please Zebras watch that video for motivation and you will surely beat the lights out of the black stars.

OTIS GAORUTWE: 2012-01-24 14:42

BALATEDI BA DIPITSE A RE NEELANENG MATSOGO ROTLHE.GHANA Z A STRONG SIDE BUT WE WILL COMPETE WITH THEM .OUR NEIGHBOURS WHO DIDNT QUALIFY BAD LUCK ESPEACILY ZIM ZIM. NEXT TIME GUYS YOU HAVE A STRONG TEAM WITH QUALITYIM OUT

Itunes22: 2012-01-24 19:05

1st 45minutes of this horrible game,is this the most improved team in Africa!Not even a shot on target by Botswana.Yet its supporters who surely know nothing about football talk too much on this site.Zimbabwe took a select side that went by road for 6 hrs & arrived the same afternoon to play the so called cream of Zebras & came out with a draw & this is the very pathtic team we are watching now!My prediction is that the second period of the game will much worse & they are proving to b the 1st team to exit the AFCON!I cant blame the Black Stars for not scoring more goals,the miscalculated tackles by these amatures will cost them their careers!!YUCK!

MeyeDeDon: 2012-01-24 21:17

yes we lost to lost and im still proud of my team,Itunes22 don single out the first half..