Africa-Press – Lesotho. Likuena interim coach Leslie Notši says the upcoming COSAFA Cup is a chance for the national team to rebuild self-belief after a run of disappointing results.
Notši took charge of Likuena last week on a caretaker basis after the sacking of Serbia’s Veselin Jelusic as coach. His first task in charge is getting ready Lesotho for the regional showpiece which begins next Wednesday in Durban, South Africa.
Notši is taking over a Lesotho side that has not won a recognised international match in 2023 and his first game at the helm is next Saturday when Likuena make their COSAFA Cup bow against Mauritius.
Notši said patriotism will play a big part for the players because when they put on the Likuena shirt bearing the nation’s flag, it is about fighting for national pride.
Likuena will leave the country early next week to Durban where they have been drawn in Group B with Mauritius, Angola and Mozambique. In an interview with thepost on Tuesday, Notši said he is expecting tough encounters across the group.
He said Mauritius is very aggressive and Likuena’s technical staff have already made the players aware and told them they will have to be careful. Notši, however, said the most important thing for Likuena is to focus on their strengths which are sharpness and quick inter-passing and to make sure they do not concede at the other end.
Lesotho’s other two group opponents, Mozambique and Angola, are enjoying good spells of form and are both well-placed to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“Mozambique and Angola play football with the influence of Portugal, if you look at their (AFCON) qualifying games, they have talented players,” Notši said.
“In the (CAF) Champions League their teams get there and they bring experience and international exposure.
They are not teams you just go (and play against), you have to be careful, but there are areas we can capitalise on and it’s an opportunity for our players to play against the best teams.
We are expecting tough matches but we also believe in ourselves,” Notši added. Notši will be working with Bantu head coach Bob Mafoso who was brought into the national team fold last week.
They are hoping to change the mood around Likuena after a gloomy two years under Jelusic which culminated in a run of four successive defeats before he was sacked.
Likuena’s last win, coincidentally, came against Mauritius – a 2-1 victory last July at the COSAFA Cup. “Likuena has not been doing well lately, we need to bring back self-belief, and we have talented players,” Notši said.
“We need to make sure in training we do a lot of finishing because this is tournament football and we have to make sure we bring that (scoring goals) into the fold.
Understand that patriotism also plays a part, we are fighting for national pride. We also understand Likuena’s form is not something that can change overnight but the experience and hunger the players have will help,” he said.
Notši has called up a mixture of young and experienced players. The majority of the players were already training under Jelusic and the only addition is Hlomelang Lebina of Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS).
Lebina was the joint top scorer in the just ended Vodacom Premier League season with 15 goals. Notši praised Lebina for his bravery and said Likuena will need to manage him well.
“Lebina is the only player I can say is new to the national team because others were already included in ntate Veselin’s team.
He is brave, I like his bravery and he is trying by all means to express himself and I speak to him on a daily basis,” Notši said. “He needs that to be assured,” Notši added.
“(Lebina) is playing a game that he loves, so every day he spends here, he has to go back with good memories so that he can give us what he has.
We understand it’s not easy even at the tournament we have to manage him well,” he continued. Notši said Likuena are in a transition phase and he believes the senior players are passing the baton to the younger ones.
Some of the senior players in the squad such as captain Basia Makepe and Kopano Tseka have been with the national team for a decade and it is time to phase them out and rebuild a new Likuena with younger players.
For the young players, the COSAFA Cup is a stepping stone into the international arena, Notši said. “These youngsters did well for their respective teams during the season and, if you look around, they come from youth developmental teams,” Notši explained.
“Mohlomi Makhetha was in Kick4Life’s development and that’s where LCS got him. Then you have Lebina, (Seahlolo) Mosoeu, there are others that we are looking at like ‘Mellere who has been outstanding for Linare,” he added.
“Others are still young, it’s just that they have been in the Premier League for a long time, but if you look at the average age in the team, it is players you can say are the future Likuena.
It’s about continuity, COSAFA is an opportunity, it’s a stepping stone for them into the international arena. They deserve to be part of this team especially because they have done well for their respective teams,” Notši said.
Key defender Motlomelo Mkhwanazi is still recovering from surgery and is still under the care of the doctors. it is unclear if he will be involved in the COSAFA but he is training.
Katleho Makateng returned to South Africa to start preseason with his premiership club, Richards Bay. Notši said he did not know if his club would allow Makateng to join the national team in Durban but did not rule the striker out of Likuena’s plans.
Likuena squad: Goalkeepers Seahlolo Mosoeu, Sekhoane Moerane, Teboho Ratebisi Defenders Mohlomi Makhetha, Rethabile Mokokoane, Rethabile Senkoto, Rethabile Rasethuntša, Kopano Tseka, Basia Makepe, Thabang Malane
Midfielders Thabo Lesaoana, Koenehelo Mothala, Lisema Lebokollane, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Tumelo Makha, Neo Mokhachane, Tšepang Sefali, Tshwarelo Bereng, Tšepo Toloane Forwards Hlomelang Lebina, Jane Thabantšo, Motebang Sera, Katleho Makateng
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