Mikia Kalati MASERU — Premier league rookies Qoaling Highlanders are confident of causing another upset when they host premier league giants LMPS in Qoaling this afternoon. This will be the first time this season that the newly promoted team use their Qoaling home ground having used the Lesotho Correctional Service ground as their venue in previous home matches.
Highlanders registered their first and only premier league win when they beat Likhopo in their second match of the new season in September. Highlanders coach, Wright Mofoka, told the Sunday Express that they are desperate to bag maximum points if they are to remain in the top-flight league next season.
“We have had mixed results since winning promotion to the premier league registering a win, a draw and suffering three losses, and we have to fight for a second win against LMPS on Sunday,” Mofoka said. “We knew it was going to be tough playing top-flight football after so many years in the lower division, but I’m confident the players will get used to the big stage with time.”
Mofoka said although his team lost 2-0 to Lioli last weekend they played extremely well adding he expected his players to rise to the occasion against the police side.
LMPS are themselves going through a dry patch and registered their first win of the season when they beat Linare 1-0 last Sunday.
“We conceded two goals in the last 15 minutes due to lack of concentration which comes with lack of experience as a newly promoted team,” said Mofoka. “We might be going through a rough patch as a team, but I think this is a learning curve for us and we will improve with a number of games under our belt.”
LMPS last Sunday registered their first win of the 2012-13 season and their coach Lelia Makubakube is adamant his boys have turned the corner. “I always knew that we would turn the tables as we have a very experienced team,” Makubakube said.
“Highlanders are a tough side despite being a new team in the league and they shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“I have passed this message to the players because they cannot underestimate the rookies,” he said. Makubakube told this paper that he expects his team to continue with the same winning mentality they showed against Linare. “We played as a team last Sunday and we were very solid throughout the match,” said Makubakube.
The police side have also lost three matches out of the five they have played so far.
Elsewhere, struggling premier league giants Matlama are away to Mpharane Celtic in Mpharane.
Tse Putsoa lost to Joy at Pitso Ground last weekend and have promised to put their horror run to an end in today’s match. Matlama are at the bottom of the premier league table with only one win after four matches having also been docked three points by the premier league.
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