Teboho Molapo
MASERU — Lioli says they will be going out for the kill when they play Matlama in a Vodacom Soccer Spectacular tie this afternoon in Teyateyaneng.
The two giants meet in the first leg of their hyped quarter-final tie, with the second leg scheduled for November 5 at Setsoto Stadium.
Speaking to the Sunday Express on Friday, Lioli coach, Retšelisitsoe Lephaila, said his charges would be going all out for a win against their bitter rivals.
“We want to win. As long as we win we are not concerned with how many goals Matlama score,” Lephaila said.
“Our approach is going to be a positive one. Our main focus is to make use of our home advantage and get a win,” he said.
As was the case in previous seasons the away goals rule will come into play if the sides are tied on aggregate after the two legs.
“Lioli is a big team, there will always be pressure but the game itself is also a motivation,” Lephaila said.
He said there was an injury concern over young playmaker, Teboho Lekhooa, who has been struggling with injury since the 0 — 0 draw with Joy last Sunday.
“The only injury we have is Skopie (Lekhooa) but he will play. During the last two sessions we have had he has shown that he is getting better,” Lephaila said.
Lioli will however definitely be without influential midfielder Motlalepula Mofolo and right-back Pitso Monne
who are both suspended for today’s match.
The absence of Mofolo, who has been a mainstay in Tse Nala’s engine-room over the last two seasons, potentially creates a void in the middle of the park.
However Lephaila insisted his side will cope with Mofolo’s absence.
“It hasn’t derailed our plans that much because we have quality players in the squad who can do the job,” Lephaila said.
Both sides have enjoyed patchy form of late but Lephaila said the form book goes out of the window on such occasions.
“In matches like this it doesn’t matter what the form of the teams is like. There is talk that Matlama are not in form going into this match, but if we allow ourselves to think like that we will be setting ourselves up for trouble,” Lephaila said.
“When these two teams clash it is like Chiefs and Pirates (South African clubs), anything is possible.”
Lephaila added it was important for Lioli to grab some silverware this season in the form of the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular which offers M360 000 to the winner.
“It’s a very important match because this is a big competition we are looking at. We need to win it this season and that will boost the club,” Lephaila said.
In the other Vodacom Soccer Spectacular clash today LDF host Majantja at Ratjomose.
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