Moorosi Tsiane
MATLAMA coach Thabile Secker has warned his charges against complacency when they take on LMPS in the return fixture of the LNIG Top8 quarterfinal at Maputsoe DIFA Ground this afternoon.
Tse Putsoa go into this match with one foot in the semifinal following last weekend’s 1-0 win at Setsoto Stadium in the first leg courtesy of a Patrick Nyango goal.
Secker told the Sunday Express on Friday that there is still lot of work that needs to be done if they are to defend their title this year.
“Everyone in the team knows because there is still lot of work that needs to be done for us to advance to the next stage of the tournament,” Secker said.
“We walked away victorious last weekend playing at home and that gives us an advantage but I have also warned my players that we don’t have to be carried away as LMPS are an equally good side.”
Secker predicted that LMPS would come out guns blazing but said an early goal for his side will help pile pressure on the police side.
“They were the better side in the first leg because we focused too much on scoring than on playing and that made the game more difficult for us. However, now we already have a one goal advantage and we just need to search for an early goal that will pile more pressure on the opponents because they will be playing at home and they failed to score away,” he said.
Matlama will be missing the services of striker Motebang Sera who was red carded last weekend and their league top scorer Lebajoa Mosehlenyane, who is still out with an injury but Secker said the available players will do the job.
“Lebajoa is still out and Sera is suspended but we are good to go. Everyone has been working hard in training this week and we also want to afford chances to players who have not been getting much game time. Anyone who will be selected to play on Sunday will have to do the job. I believe in them,” Secker said.
LMPS coach Teele Ntšonyana echoed Secker’s sentiments saying he is expecting a tough match but said they are willing to do everything to advance to the next stage of the competition.
“It is not going to be easy because we lost the first leg but there is still so much to fight for. The aim is to go all the way and we are aware it is not going to be easy but we are prepared to give it our all,” Ntšonyana said.
He said he expects a psychologically tough match hence they are preparing their squad’s mental fitness.
“We have warriors whom I trust can do the job especially because this is going to be a testing match psychologically but everyone in the team from management is determined because we all want to win. It is not going to be easy but it’s doable,” Ntšonyana concluded.
In the second match Bantu, who come into the match enjoying a three-goal advantage hope to finish the job against Majantja.
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