Teboho Molapo
MASERU — Lesotho’s 1-0 loss away to Malawi in a friendly match on Tuesday was a good result, a senior Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) official has said.
Lesotho sent a development side made up mostly of Under-20 players to Lilongwe for the match which was part of Malawi’s independence celebrations.
Malawi also fielded a reserve side.
Thabo Pule, a member of Lefa’s national executive committee, said Lesotho had done well despite the loss because the team had not been together for a long time.
“If we look at the short period of time the team had been together it is a good result,” Pule told the Sunday Express.
“I didn’t expect a win.”
He did not travel with the team, but Pule insisted the development side had done well.
“I understood that they would perform well and perhaps get a draw,” Pule said.
“The performance was good and it shows that we can go somewhere,” he added.
The only goal of the match came in the 40th minute when Malawi striker Jimmy Zakazaka headed in from a corner kick.
National Under-20 coach Leslie Notši was in charge of the Lesotho side.
Only six senior players — Liteboho Mokhesi, Thabo Masualle, Moitheri Ntobo, Bokang Mothoana, Bushy Moletsane, Motlalepula Mofolo and Dlhomo Monapathi — were included to reinforce the youthful team.
In February, Lefa disbanded Lesotho’s senior national team, Likuena, for two years.
Lefa said the national Under-20 team would form the core of a future Likuena side.
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