THE LASTING IMPACT OF CHICO NARE IN BOTSWANA FOOTBALL

BY: Oscar T. Gasennelwe

He is a master tactician. Wherever he goes, he will surely leave a mark with his drama, success and influence. He is truly a mastermind and has brought change in local football. Daniel Chico ‘Dance’ Nare is a name that can never be forgotten in local football books.

TALKING POINTS

• He finished second with the underdogs
• He entrusts the young talent
• Chico Nare is a father figure

Chico Nare, well celebrated as “MamaDance”, has coached many of local teams including Extension Gunners, BMC FC (now known as Gilport Lions), Security Systems, Orapa United, Miscellaneous, Morupule Wanderers and has also managed the U-23 men’s Botswana national team.

CHICO NARE`S BEST FINISH IN THE LEAGUE WAS IN 2012

He had an inspiring season with BMC FC in 2011/12 as they finished second. It is the only season that earned him country wide appeal where he would later win the premier league coach of the season accolade. His Extension Gunners’ side also produced some of the best football infused with the ‘kasi flavor’ style of football although his team did not win any major title while his term at Orapa United was cut short.

His recent time with Security Systems and Miscellaneous were testimonial as he was brought to the teams to simply save them from relegation, the teams now competing with the big guns for league title. Systems were not the busiest in the transfer market due to a limited budget but brought in defender, Kabo Mungabe and attacker, Morris Ruzivo from Orapa United and Mochudi Centre Chiefs respectively. The two were the only seasoned players bought in the winter transfer window. Systems are not blessed with abundance of talent in the squad but have shown they know how to knick results. The experience of Ronald Chikomo and Kenanao Kgetholetsile are stirring the Alarm Boys to greater heights.

There have young talent raising their hands in Systems’ best start to the season. During his reign, Systems had a good record against the league’s traditional title contenders, Jwaneng Galaxy, Orapa United, Gaborone United and Rollers, losing just twice to the giants.

Chico Nare, being a technically and tactically astute coach, was allowed to engrain his philosophy into the team, backed in the market and afforded time aplenty to perform his technical duties without any unnecessary pressure and interference from the management. Nare has probably never enjoyed such a smooth spell as his previous tenures at his past clubs were marred with controversy and interference from the executives. The closest Nare has ever came to such early season success at Systems was during his time with BMC, when they went on to finish second on the log and the same conducive environment he found at BMC was exactly the one at Systems. Due to COVID-19, the 2019/20 was cancelled with 10 games to play and Systems were fourth on the log with just two points behind the league leaders, Jwaneng Galaxy.

When the season started, Systems were on a long undefeated streak which had elapsed from the previous season, resulting in Nare being adamant that their good start will certainly guarantee a good finish with the league title.

“This squad that cannot win the league. We would be putting pressure on ourselves if we claim to be one of the contenders. I just told my boys that we just need a good start, but that does mean we will have a good finish. But it helps with the pressure and gives you confidence for the rest of the season,” he was quoted.

He also said something similar with his shocking time a Miscellaneous as he said, it is best not to wait until the end of the season to collect maximum points. With this said, there was no doubt that Nare’s sides had the capacity to spring surprises on us, though equally they often fail to dominate teams they might be expected to do well against.

CHICO BELIEVES IN YOUTH

Chico Nare believes so much in the youth, as we have seen his System team which had a lot of young players. He is very good with developing playing players as seen in his previous years with Gunners, BMC FC and other clubs. He developed players like Kabelo Finkie “Mathousand” Mothibi, Kgololo “Bicycle Seronega” Kgogobi, Mosimanegape Ramohibidu, the recent hot kid, Mothusi Cooper and many more. He has successfully coached the U-23 Botswana men’s national team, where he was at the urge of qualifying for the 2012 Olympics, but was unfortunate as other teams were in denial of releasing their players to the national team.

Chico Nare was unceremoniously fired by Orapa United after a rift between him and his technical superior Bongani Mafu after being walloped 4-2 by Township Rollers in the Mascom Top 8 finals. It was believed that he had done witchcraft to aid him win the game, but that did not work to his advantage.

Recently, the charismatic tactician dropped a bombshell as he quit the club just two months after signing a two-year contract extension that was to be in effect from July 1.

“We are yet to know his reasons, he just sent his (resignation) letter through email. He also called the club president to bid farewell. We have not met him in person, so we cannot tell why he decided to quit,” Systems public relations officer, Zolani Kraai said.

Chico Nare has showed us several time that he is a good hearted man of football as he borrowed Gunners P180 000 to enable the team to pay players’ salaries. The players had threatened to boycott matches if they were not paid and by then the team did not have money and was saved by the coach. He has also assisted a 29- year -old Bakang Moipone to become one of the best agents in the game. He said the Nare assisted him in analyzing the game very well.

“It was after I met coach Chico Nare at one of his matches. He used to assist me to improve my game analysis and it came to a point where we started to relate more like family.” He said

Chico Nare is also an agent whom we saw in active Mosha Gaolaolwe’s move from BDF XI to Rollers and he was criticized for being both a coach and an agent at the same time because he facilitated that move.

Nare has never won a trophy to date. Surely this is because he has coached low resourced teams and if he is to ever coach teams like Township Rollers or Jwaneng Galaxy, and he is given time he will surely win a trophy, even the league.