Africa-Press – Lesotho. Lesotho is about to embark on the qualifiers of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2016 FIFA World Cup. It is a pivotal moment for Likuena after the team did so well at the 2023 COSAFA Cup in July where Lesotho battled all the way to the final and finished second behind Zambia.
The start of the CHAN qualifiers and the fixtures are yet to be announced but Likuena’s World Cup qualifying journey will begin on November 13 away to Nigeria.
It goes without saying that Lesotho will have to be well prepared. Thanks to the increase from 32 to 46 nations for the next World Cup in North America, the qualifying process has also changed.
A total of nine slots and one inter-confederation play-off slot are now reserved for CAF teams. And because nine African teams will now directly qualify instead of five, a new qualification format saw teams pitted into nine groups of six teams when the draw was made in May.
Preparations will be key for the marathon and Likuena’s mammoth group phase which includes Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Lesotho will play a total of 10 matches against those nations over the next two years.
One outstanding question lingers, however, and that is the question of who will lead Lesotho into the qualifiers. At the moment, the man at the helm is Leslie Notši and the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) has given no indications as to who will take over on a permanent basis.
That may be the most important decision LEFA will have to make since Lesotho returned from a two-year self-imposed exile from international football in 2011.
That fact was shown by the retirement of Likuena captain Basia Makepe last month. Likuena are in a transition moment with several stalwarts perhaps nearing the end of their run with the senior side.
Of all candidates LEFA may consider, Notši is the most qualified coach that Lesotho has and his accolades outweigh the risks that go with hiring a foreign coach. The only other Lesotho coach with a comparable CV is Lehlohonolo Seema.
However, the former Likuena captain is coaching in South Africa’s professional ranks and it may still be too early for him to take up the Likuena job and leave the lucrative scene across the border.
The World Cup qualifiers are only two months away and Lesotho has to hit the ground running. For that to happen, Likuena needs a coach that is already familiar with Lesotho’s players and not someone who will need time to acclimatise and learn the culture.
Notši’s extensive experience as a coach, both at the club and national team levels, make him a compelling choice for the top job. He has proven his ability to manage teams effectively and achieve results.
His understanding of the intricacies of Lesotho football and his tactical acumen also make him well-suited to lead the national team. His work was shown again in Lesotho’s 1-0 loss earlier this month away to African giants, Ivory Coast.
Yes, a loss is a loss, however, there were positives to take and Likuena were competitive away from home against a team that is one of the strongest on the continent and hosts of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Lesotho has seen that coaches from Europe are not really the way to go. They have the qualifications and standards of excellence, but unfortunately they don’t know how to identify with the local player.
Antonie Hey (Germany), Zaviša Milosavljević (Serbia) and Veselin Jelusic (Serbia) have all come and gone with similar issues, the biggest issue of all being a disconnect between them and the players.
Lesotho’s best foreign coach has been South Africa’s Thabo Senong, who was in charge from 2019 to 2021. He was able to relate better and didn’t have a language barrier to overcome as well.
Senong’s time saw a lift in Lesotho’s performances and harmony. Notši garners respect from his players thanks to his reputation as a mentor and role model within the Lesotho football community.
His leadership qualities and ability to inspire players have earned him respect and admiration and it’s no surprise that Likuena’s performances have dramatically improved since he replaced Veselin Jelusic in June.
Time and time again, Notši has shown that he instills a sense of pride, discipline, and professionalism in the players and he fosters a strong team spirit and unity that is essential for success at international level.
His successes are well-documented. In 2010, Notši guided Lesotho’s Under-20 to the 2011 CAF African Youth Championship which is one of only two times the country has qualified for a continental tournament.
That side launched long careers of Makepe, Kopano Tseka, Tšoanelo Koetle and Litšepe Marabe among many Lesotho luminaries. From there Notši coached Likuena from April 2011 until December 2013 during which he helped set the stage for Lesotho’s highest-ever FIFA ranking of 105 which it achieved in August 2014.
His impressive work with Likuena led to opportunities in South Africa with United FC, Garankuwa United and Mthatha Bucks. Upon returning home, Notši inspired Kick4Life to an improbable top four league finish in 2016.
And, of course, last season he led Linare to second place in the Vodacom Premier League which was the club’s best league finish this century. The only other comparable performance for Linare was a third-place finish in 2014.
It would be very sad for Lesotho to once again throw away the momentum Likuena have gained from their COSAFA Cup exploits. Spirits are high within the squad and goodwill from supporters is on a high. Lesotho has to take advantage of that and build on it.
Given the limited resources and infrastructure in Lesotho, Notši’s expertise in identifying and honing young players is a valuable asset for the national team, and at the least, would ensure a sustainable pipeline of talent for years to come and foundation to carry on from if LEFA then wants to bring in a foreign coach.
That is the best option: to give Notši the job for the next two to three years. It has been proven that he possesses the qualities, experience, and understanding of Lesotho football that has made him an outstanding Likuena coach every time he is given the job.
In 2019, for example, Notši was again in a caretaker role following the ill health of Moses Maliehe, and seamlessly guided Likuena to a 6-2 beating of South Africa on aggregate in the CHAN.
That win was Lesotho’s first-ever victory over South Africa. Lesotho is a small country and we struggle to compete with more resourceful nations. Notši’s experience in coaching teams with limited resources offsets that to a degree.
We need to find innovative solutions in order to maximize the potential of the talent pool we have available. Furthermore, we need the right strategic approach and an ability to adapt to challenging circumstances in order to compete.
Notši’s proven track record, commitment to player development, ability to navigate challenges, and mentorship abilities make him stand above the rest for Likuena. There perhaps may be better qualified candidates, but specifically for Likuena and where the team is now, Notši is the best man for the position.
By appointing Notši as the Lesotho national team coach, LEFA can potentially elevate the team’s performance and lay a solid foundation for the future of Lesotho football. The sooner the decision is made, the sooner Lesotho will have clarity as well.
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