New Lesotho under-20 coach Mahao 'Bomber' Matete says it will be a race against time to get his team ready for the Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships in Botswana but at the same time warns of his country's strong performances in past tournaments.
Lesotho is having to start over again after a strong under-20 squad moved up to senior level over the last year but are looking to do well in Botswana.
How have your preparations for the 2011 Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships been going?
If I am honest with you, I have to say not very well. We are starting a new team because 90 percent of the under-20 team from last year have graduated up to the senior national team, and they have been playing in the World Cup qualifiers, as I'm sure you are aware. We have had to start afresh. A number of our players have been off writing exams since the beginning of November and this has impacted on us badly. Effectively we have been having just two of three training sessions a week and lasting just an hour at a time. We did have a friendly against South Africa in Kroonstad and lost that one and we were also beaten 3-1 by Swaziland.
So how confident are you about your chances the 2011 Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships?
If you can call me next week I'd probably be able to give a clearer picture of our potential. We'll be able to say something more substantial then. We are still to meet up as a group and we'll then be going into camp on Monday. There is also another friendly to come against South Africa, so I'm not sure yet just how confident I can be.
But it is true to say that Lesotho has consistently producing good junior teams and that you are always a force in under-age competition?
It is true to say there has been a conveyor belt of talent over the years but it's a challenge for this team to prove that this has been kept up. I don't think the process has been managed that well this time round. That is because you would expect that most of the under-17 team of last year would be promoted up to the under-20 squad but this has not happened. We have had to go out and pick almost a new squad completely. There are only about three or four players who have graduated up from the under-17 side and so the conveyor belt has let us down this time round.
You have been drawn with Malawi and the Seychelles in Group B at the 2011 Metropolitan COSAFA Under-20 Youth Championships. What is ambition given the quality of your opponents?
We want to do well and I think if we can get as a far as the semi-finals, I'll be really happy. To make it to the final would be a big bonus given all that we have done through lately. But whatever the outcome all of this is very good preparation for us because obviously we want to do well in the U-20 World Cup qualifiers, which are coming up next year.
Mothoana on cloud nine as Likuena make it to the group stages
Lesotho star midfielder Bokang Mothoana has hailed Likuena 3-2 aggregate win over Burundi in the second leg of the 2014 world cup qualifiers in a match played at Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium in Bujumbura on Tuesday November 15.
Lesotho held Burundi to a 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Serbian based striker Thapelo Tale and Tunisian based Mothoana.
Likuena went to the second leg match with one foot already in the group stages phase, after a 1-0 over the Hirondelles last Friday through a Lehlomela Ramabele 81st minute strike at Setsoto stadium.
The left footed player attributed the good run to unity among all stake holders from management, players coaches down to the support the team received in the first leg match played in Maseru.
“We played and worked as a team both at home and away and it came as no surprise when we scored first in the second leg match in their own backyard,” Mothoana said.
Matlama, Bantu Complete VSS semi-finals line-up
Premier league giants Matlama on Sunday drew 1-1 with bitter rivals Lioli in the quarterfinals, second-leg tie of the Vodacom Spectacular competition, played at Setsoto Stadium.
The result was enough to send the Maseru based outfit through to the semi-finals of the richest cup competition in the country, after winning 1-0 in first leg match played in Teyateyaneng last month.
Tse Putsoa are going to have to be up to the fight when they meet LDF in the semi-finals on Saturday at Setsoto stadium.
While Maduma flying start to the 2011/12 season face the acid test on Saturday as the Khukhune based side battle it out with Bantu for a place in the final.
Hoping to build on the league success is the surprise package; Khukhune based Maduma who knocked-out Linare in the quarter-finals stage.
Bantu will be favourites for the title from here, hoping to add another trophy to their trophy cabinet after lifting the Independence Top 4 title in October.
A Matšo Matebele beat LCS 5-4 on penalties shoot-out to book a place in the semi-final after the match had ended in a goalless draw in regulation time.
2011 Vodacom Spectacular semi-finals Saturday 26 November
LDF vs.Matlama
Maduma vs. Bantu
Sunday 27 November 3rd place
Loser SF1 vs. Loser SF2 Final
Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
We can still shock Matlama-says Lioli
One of the oldest rivalries in Lesotho Football will come to the fore on Sunday 20 November in Maseru when, two bitter rivals Lioli and Matlama square up in a do–or -die encounter of the richest Cup Competition in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.
Matlama hold a 1-0 advantage heading into the second leg after beating Tse Nala in Teyateyaneng in the first leg of the Vodacom spectacular.
The two giants of Lesotho football are high on confidence with a number of their players having been involved in the Lesotho national team historic 1-0 win over Burundi last Friday.
Nonetheless, Matlama Tšeliso Ramathe believes a win on Saturday would reinforce his team status as they hope to win their second Vodacom Spectacular title.
“We want to win this trophy to cement our place as the best team in the country especially after a disastrous 2010/11 season,” said the defender.
Lioli star winger Montoeli Sonopo on the other hand has vowed to hand his team a place in the semi-finals.
“We are going into this game as underdogs after losing the first leg, but we just have to go out there as a team and do our part, and play for each other which I know we can do,” said the speedy winger.
Meanwhile, after a 0-0 draw in Maseru, Bantu and LCS will meet for the second leg of the Vodacom spectacular with the epic clash very much in the balance.
His national Under 20 teammate and Lioli winger Montoeli Sonopo on the other hand says
Mafeteng fans will be hoping for an open and exciting game because the first leg was not the brightest game between the two exciting team.
Huge challenge ahead-Notsi
Lesotho senior national team coach Lesley Notsi faces one of the biggest challenges of his coaching career as the clock slowly ticks towards the preliminary 1st leg of the 2014 World cup qualifying match against Burundi.
The coach said the team's preparations with local based players have been going well. "We are in good shape, strong mentally and will remain confident that we will be ready for Burundi.
Things have gone according to plan at training and as players we are looking forward to this crucial match for both sides as we want to qualify for the group stages.
Ntobo said it is important to use the home advantage and win the 1st leg at Setsoto stadium before the return leg in Bujumbura four days later.
"It won't be easy in their background in the 2nd leg, we should expect hostile conditions; that is why it so important to make sure we do not concede in the first match here at home," said the skipper.
"It is important for us to qualify and make it to the next stage of the qualifiers. I would like to make an appeal to all the players to double their efforts to help the country qualify, and we are more positive than ever," said Ntobo.
Lesotho senior national team coach Leslie Notsi
One of the oldest rivalries in Lesotho Football will come to the fore on Sunday 23 October in Teyateyaneng, Berea when, two bitter rivals Lioli and Matlama square up in a do–or -die encounter of the richest Cup Competition in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.
The big guns of the Lesotho premier league will be joined by six other clubs in the 2011 edition of the richest cup competition in domestic football. The eight teams are League champions LCS, last season runners-up LDF, Bantu, Linare, Maduma, Matlama, Lioli and Majantja.
Hlotse based Linare will face surprise packages Maduma, while newly promoted Majantja will be up against Motheo Mohapi Lesotho defence Force.
Lesotho Football Association Public Relations Officer Baba Malephane hailed the partnership that has been going for years with Vodacom.
"This sponsorship is very significant in many ways. It was a three year deal and I must say it was an extraordinary sponsorship. I want to thank Vodacom Lesotho for their support over the years. We will soon start new negotiations to continue with the sponsorship. Vodacom in this country is the genesis and the future of what is happening in football and other social activities.
Malephane said: Ever since the inception of the Vodacom Spectacular in 2007, this tournament has been known for its innovations on and off the field. I believe that this year will be no different.
"To Vodacom Lesotho, although contractually we nearing the end of this magnificent relationship, i for one hope that this is not the last Vodacom Spectacular tournament. Together we have grown this tournament and your contribution into the beautiful game has been appreciated over the years."
The draw:
Saturday October 22
Maduma v Linare
LCS v Bantu
Sunday October 23
Lioli v Matlama
LDF v Majantja
All on the line for Independence Cup final
Lesotho Correctional Services and Bantu will take to the field on Saturday afternoon to wage war and to the victor goes the 2011 Independence Top 4 trophy.
According to Bantu Public Relations Officer Bokang Phasumane, not only pride will be at stake in the final against LSC but also a chance to announce the arrival as challengers for league and cup competitions.
"It is now or never for us, may many consider LCS as favourites going into the match when they look at the history of their successes in recent years compared to us.
Phasumane said they are ready for the fight and to cause the biggest upset to reigning league champions come Saturday October 15.
On the other hand LCS spokesperson Moseme Moseme said their eyes are on lifting another trophy after lifting the league trophy last season.
"We are looking for another trophy now. We broke our course by winning the league title and now we looking for yet another trophy in only a couple of months. The only team in our way is Bantu," added Moseme.
Linare who lost 1-2 LCS in the quarterfinals will battle it out for a third and Fourth place with LDF who lost 6-5 to Bantu.
Both sides have a enjoyed a relatively good start to the 2011/2012 season and the impressive performance in the quarterfinals of the tournament could set up a classic encounter in the final.
The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) in conjunction with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has kicked off the CAF "C‟ License coaching course. The 14 day course is taking place at the Lesotho Football Association‟s head quarters Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena in Maseru and will end on Friday October 16. The coaching course is headed by Lesotho Football Association Technical director Seephephe Matete with the help of local instructors and the CAF Instructor Tlhagiso Sethibe. "A country that has no good education system will not get anywhere. We have development programmes that we want to implement in the future, but before that we have to educate personnel that will run these programmes," said the Lesotho Football Association Chief Executive Officer Mofihli Makoele speaking at the opening of the course. "The policies of LeFA are changing, as matters stand, LeFA has set up policies that from the 2011/12 season no person will be allowed to coach in the Premier League without recognized qualifications. So our aim is to develop as many local coaches as possible so that when we implement policies we should not find ourselves in a position where we do not have enough supply of coaches in relation to the demand of the premier league and A division," added the Technical Director Matete. This is the first of the two groups attending the course; the next course is scheduled for February 2012.
Forty (40) local coaches from both the Lesotho Premier league and A division (division 1) are taking part in the course which includes practical and theoretical sessions.
