Latest news with #Mares'
CAF
6 days ago
- General
- CAF
Alex Malete (Botswana): 'Our minimum target is the quarterfinals'
A former radio analyst, trained teacher and FIFA instructor, Alex Malete wants to make Botswana a serious contender Appointed head coach in 2023 after years as an assistant, he's brought a new level of discipline to the Mares' preparations Botswana will face Nigeria, Algeria and Tunisia in Group B of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 He no longer wants Botswana to be seen as mere participants. At just 35 years old, Alex Basimanebotlhe Malete is determined to shake up the hierarchy of African women's football. He's not just dreaming he's planning. He's not there to take part he's there to compete, to be seen, to break through barriers. Promoted to head coach of the Mares in 2023 after several years behind the scenes as assistant coach, Malete wasted no time in making his presence felt. Gone are the days of half-hearted preparations and excuses around lack of experience. Under his leadership, everyday matters, every session is carefully planned, every friendly is treated as a proper test. 'Not reaching the quarterfinals would be unacceptable,' he states clear-eyed but ambitious. And it's not just talk. Despite his youth, Malete speaks from experience. He knows this team inside out, having been part of it for years. He started off as 'just' the assistant. Now, he's the one in charge. And his unconventional background is his greatest asset: a former radio analyst who turned his attention to the pitch, a qualified teacher and a passionate FIFA instructor focused on youth development he represents a new wave of African coaches. With a clear approach, a youth-focused strategy and a bold message, he's determined to do better than in 2022, when Botswana surprised many by reaching the quarterfinals before falling to Morocco (2-1). But this time, the element of surprise is gone. Malete is open about his goal: he wants to make his team one of the continent's powerhouses. As the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 approaches, the team enters a critical phase of preparation. Under Alex Malete, Botswana moves forward with method and ambition no longer just to participate, but to make an impact. How would you assess your team's preparation for this TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON? Alex Malete: I'd say we're in the final stages of our preparation. We're starting our camp today, and we're waiting for all the players to join us. The good news is that one of our players, who was out for the whole of last year due to injury, is finally back. That's a big plus for us. Starting today, we'll focus on our next two matches against South Africa and Zambia. These two international friendlies will help us assess our current level. In terms of fitness, we know most of our players are not yet where they should be. In 2022, during your first appearance, Botswana reached the quarterfinals. What lessons have you taken from that experience? We learnt a great deal. It was a first for everyone the players, the technical staff, the federation. One key lesson was around how we handled conceding goals, and especially the mental preparation of the players, particularly when facing teams like Nigeria. You could sense even before kick-off that mentally, we weren't ready for them. Since then, we've grown. I believe we're better equipped now to compete without being overawed by the occasion. We've faced high-level teams. In the upcoming FIFA window, we'll play Zambia and South Africa. In the past, we've played Tunisia (who are in our group), Mali, Morocco, and even Russia. These matches have helped us progress, both in terms of our game and our results. There's another key difference: during our first campaign, we only did one fitness test before the tournament. This time, we're doing two. We did the ALIA physical evaluation in January, and we'll do another right before the competition to tailor the training for each player's needs. This time, Botswana is in Group B with Nigeria, Tunisia and Algeria. What's your take on this group? All the groups are tough in my opinion. There's no easy group. If you look at Group A, it's even more competitive because it includes the host nation. Group C has the defending champions. In Group B, like last time, we've got Nigeria again. Nigeria's playing style is very different from Algeria or Tunisia. The latter two are very tactical, whereas Nigeria combines physical power with tactical discipline. So, we've prepared to face both types of opponents. Now we need to find a way to qualify for the next round. Let's talk a bit about you. You were a journalist before becoming a coach. How has that past experience helped in your coaching career? It's helped a lot. I started out in radio as an analyst. Then I moved into print and TV, which gave me the chance to observe and analyse matches, systems, team dynamics... It gave me a broader perspective on football, beyond the emotion of the pitch. As a journalist, you learn to ask the right questions and see things others might miss. That's helped me develop a critical eye, which is valuable now in evaluating our performances, preparing for matches, and even managing the group. I believe that this unique journey is one of my strengths as a coach today. How do you work to build a bridge between youth categories and the senior national team? We rely mainly on our youth national teams. Over the past year, we've integrated several players from the U20 squad. It's harder with the U17s, because they still have their own camps and are mostly in school. Balancing school, junior competitions, and the senior team is tough for them. But with the U20s, many are no longer studying, which makes things easier. As soon as we spot promising talent, we do everything we can to bring them into the senior team. Even if they don't play much at first, they get to learn about the environment, the culture, and the expectations. It's all part of preparing for the future. In your view, what would constitute a successful TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON for Botswana? A successful campaign would be reaching at least the quarterfinals. From there, we can start dreaming about the semi-finals. But honestly, not making it out of the group stage would be a failure for us. The goal is clear: to get to the quarters at minimum. Do you think this tournament could be a steppingstone to more international recognition for your players? Absolutely I truly believe that. The difference between us and countries like South Africa is that most of their players are in professional leagues. Why? Because they regularly play in CAF competitions, FIFA tournaments and the Olympics. For us, this second WAFCON appearance is a golden opportunity. It puts our players on the radar of scouts and professional clubs. The more girls we have playing professionally, the stronger our national team becomes. This tournament offers real exposure. If we do well, as we hope to, it could open many doors for our players. Final question, coach. What message would you give to a young African girl who dreams of becoming a footballer? My message is simple: your dreams are valid. A young African girl can make it in football. The examples are there: Barbara Banda is shining at the highest level. The Chawinga sisters from Malawi are playing in top leagues. Across North and West Africa, many others are succeeding too. And to parents and society at large, I'd say: let's change the perception that football is only for men. Football is for everyone.
Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Jeremy Scott interview: Farmer turned trainer who has his own ‘barmy army' of fans
The sign off the 'main' road – as main as they get on Exmoor – is as unassuming as the trainer of this season's Champion Hurdle; on the verge, 'JS Racing' competes for daylight with wild garlic and primroses. In a sport increasingly dominated by a few big players, the signpost to Jeremy Scott's farm might equally direct you to a place called 'Hope' after Golden Ace won the hurdling crown at Cheltenham last month for her 35-horse stable. The bare outcome does not tell the whole story; that the two previous champions, Constitution Hill and State Man, both fell. But, in racing, it is surprising how often what might be termed a 'funny' result is proved less of a fluke in time. Scott, 63, hopes that the Boodles Punchestown Champion Hurdle, when the three champions meet again on Irish turf, proves to be one of those moments. Either way, to have the Champion Hurdle winner, standing in his converted dairy farm, is remarkable for someone who started out with a couple of pointers for no better reason than to get him and his wife, Camilla, off the place occasionally. Golden Ace was bought by her owner, Ian Gosden, for £12,000. He went up to the sales, deviated away from the selection which his advisers had come up with and did his own thing. As Gosden quite freely admits, he does not like being told 'no', it just hardens his resolve. 'That's probably what made him a successful businessman,' Scott says. 'He is used to making his own decisions and not relying on others. She just needed time to mature. She didn't run for us until she was nearly five. She's not flash, she doesn't scatter the sheep, but her work's improved. She does seem to keep her best for the racecourse. She improved again to Cheltenham and, if anything, she's better now than all season.' Scott says that the Champion Hurdle result did not sink in until the pay cheque dropped in his bank account. If it had been up to him, she might not even have run in the race, as he was favouring going for the easier option of the Mares' Hurdle over the longer trip of 2½ miles. 'There had been all this to-ing and fro-ing about whether we'd go for the Champion or Mares' Hurdle. Both Lorcan [Williams, jockey] and myself thought the Mares' would be easier. I think Ian, in his heart of hearts, was always determined to run in the Champion but he indulged us, going along with the Mares' for a bit. 'He felt third or fourth in the Champion, prize-money-wise, equated to winning the Mares', but I'd always prefer a winner and to bathe in champagne. When the decision was made, the nice thing was, suddenly there was no pressure. I was just hopeful we'd manage the first three. 'You never like to see a horse fall, so when Constitution Hill went down, I didn't suddenly think 'whoopie-do, we've a chance of the first two'. State Man was going well coming down the hill, Brighterdaysahead was still there and we could be third. We crept back up on Brighterdaysahead and I was getting a bit excited we'd be second and then State Man topples over. The rest is a complete blur. It's the sort of thing you dream about.' Wow... Golden Ace wins a drama-fuelled Champion Hurdle 👀 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2025 As the 25-1 Golden Ace arrived in the winner's enclosure, a large, vociferous West Country section of the crowd started chanting Scott's name long and loudly. 'It's nice having your own barmy army,' he points out. 'It's a good job they were there. Everyone was so shocked. But to be fair, once they'd computed it, the crowd cheered her like a champion when she was paraded round the paddock. 'People have been incredibly gracious and kind, punters and fellow trainers, it has helped give people hope I think. This game is so much about hope. It's possible. Sometimes you take a punt – for which I take no credit – and it comes off.' It was Scott's father, Michael – inspired by an uncle who farmed in Somerset – who bought 400-acre Higher Holworthy Farm, now overlooking Wimbleball Lake, after the Second World War. 'Dad absolutely hated horses,' Scott says. 'Mother came down from Northumberland to groom on the neighbouring farm so, conveniently, a girlfriend arrived on the doorstep. She was all horses. I was the only one of three siblings who stuck at them, though. This is all Camilla's fault we've done this! I was happily farming away, milking cows and doing the sheep. 'In fairness, cows were giving us up. We were milking in the wrong place. When father started, every farm milked a few cows but there were only two of us left on the Brendon Hills in the end. We had difficulty in getting people to pick the milk up and all the food was dearer to drag up here.' He still has 500 ewes – lambing is dictated by the weather so coincides with Aintree and not Cheltenham – while it was the arrival of Gone To Lunch, better than a pointer, who proved the catalyst to his becoming a professional trainer in 2006. 'He ran at the Festival five times, was favourite for the 2009 RSA at one stage, nosedived at the fifth, ran in the Scottish National, was just touched off for second, then turned out again for Punchestown, where he was second in a Grade One,' Scott says. 'Lamb's been good for the last couple of years but, of all the things I could have done, being a farmer and trainer is the least profitable,' he points out, not entirely in jest. 'But the two things work quite well together and having the farm means we have a bit of space for the horses. If you're in Lambourn or Newmarket, you have to pay someone to take the muck away, I've got a very handy place to spread it. It does put pressure on at certain times of the year but, ultimately, the horses come first. 'We never had a goal, a couple of point-to-pointers purely to have a bit of fun. Someone asked us to train one for them and it grew from there. You're always asked as a child what you're going to do and the right answer is 'I don't know'. That's half the fun of life, hopefully it takes you off somewhere.'
