. . . ahead of Liberia clash
Moorosi Tsiane
Likuena have suffered a body blow ahead of today’s Nations Cup showdown with Liberia in Monrovia following the hospitalisation of first-choice goalkeeper Mohau Kuenane on Friday.
Kuenane went down with malaria, resulting in his detention at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Monrovia.
Assistant coach Halemakale Mahlaha yesterday said chances were the Lioli keeper would not play in today’s first leg of the second round of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations due to the illness.
The return leg of the continental football showcase takes place in two weeks’ time and Likuena, as the national team is affectionately known, had hoped to field their strongest side in today’s showdown with the Lone Stars.
But according to Mahlaha, this might no longer be the case with Kuenane only expected to be released from hospital late yesterday.
“He started complaining that he had flu the moment we arrived here in Monrovia on Wednesday.
“We all hoped he would become better with time, but he started getting serious and we had to rush him to hospital yesterday where he was diagnosed with malaria,” Mahlaha said.
However, Mahlaha reassured the nation that the keeper was responding well to treatment.
“Yesterday, the doctor attending him promised us that he will be OK and could be released later today (Saturday), but at the moment, the team manager has gone to the hospital to monitor his progress.
“When Mohau arrived at the hospital, he was put on (intravenous) drip so he could get enough nourishment to help him rebuild his strength. We are hoping that maybe he will play, but if he doesn’t, which looks more likely, we have good replacements although Mohau’s experience was needed for this match.”
Mahlaha revealed the team did not have anti-malaria injections before they left for Liberia on Tuesday, but had some tablets instead.
“We did not get any injections but we had some tablets a week before we left and others on Tuesday,” said Mahlaha.
Meanwhile, Mahlaha said after being treated fairly well by the host football association on their arrival on Wednesday, things took a nasty turn on Friday afternoon.
“We did not train yesterday because the Liberians said they needed the ground that had been allocated to us for their friendly match.
“This was a surprise because they had been very good to us until we were denied the pitch, and were not offered an alternative one. But we have another session at game-time today (Saturday) at 4pm, and hopefully, that one will go ahead.”