Moorosi Tsiane
SWALLOWS and Likuena’s attacking midfielder, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, is happy with his performance in his senior national team debut against Comoros.
Fothoane came from the bench to make his first appearance for Likuena in the 0-2 away defeat in the first leg of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers a fortnight ago.
He also played the last 15 minutes of the return leg on Sunday where Likuena’s 1-0 win was not enough to secure passage into the next round.
The Mazenod-born midfielder who has also played for the national under-20 side said the Likuena call up came as a pleasant surprise.
“I was not expecting this call up, it came as a shock to me but I am very happy with the two matches I have played so far,” Fothoane said.
Popularly known as McCarthy, Fothoane said the fact that he was called up while playing in the A Division was evidence that that his career was moving in the right direction.
“It was not easy because I play in the lower league but I had to be strong and believe in myself.
“The call up meant there was something I was doing right so I just told myself that I needed to continue working hard and not lose my head.
“In a national team we are from different clubs and environments so obviously our characters will be different. But it felt really good to be with the team and to have people from my home area namely, Thabiso Mohapi and Matsoai Shokhoe who really helped me to settle. The experience I gained in the youth structures also helped.”
Although the 20 year-old lanky midfielder was disappointed by Likuena’s failure to qualify, he was optimistic that, with time, the team could bring joy to the nation.
“It was not a good feeling to be on the losing side especially on my debut even though I believe I had a good game. But this is a good team and we just need to be given enough time and I promise there are good things still to come from this team,” Fothoane concluded.
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