Mehalalitoe, Banyana Banyana tie

By Sunday Express Last updated May 22, 2018

Lesotho Women’s national team friendly match friendly played at Setsoto stadium,file pic

Moorosi Tsiane

THE national women’s football team, Mehalalitoe, is scheduled to play South Africa in the Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifiers tie on 6 June 2016 at Setsoto Stadium.

Mehalalitoe travel to Bloemfontein four days later where they will play Banyana Banyana at Dr Rantlai Petrose Molemela Stadium for the second leg.

The Monaheng Montšo coached outfit beat Swaziland in the previous round of qualifiers by a 3-1 aggregate earlier this year.

In an interview with Sunday Express on Friday, Montšo said they have already started their preparations as they are anticipating a tough encounter against the women’s football powerhouses, South Africa.

“They (South Africa) are the current COSAFA champions so it shows that it is not going to be an easy task for my girls,” Montšo said.

“We have started our preparations and starting from today (Friday) we will be training twice daily until we report for a full camp which on 28 May 2018,” said.

He said they are also in search of friendly matches to weigh his squad’s strength before the big match.

“It is challenging to get a friendly match but we will keep on pushing because it is by playing against tougher teams that we can be able to weigh how far we have come. On Tuesday we will be travelling to play Bloemfontein Celtic ladies,” he said.

He added that the morale is high in his team and all the players are bracing themselves to face South Africa.

“We have not made any changes to the squad that played Swaziland and we are hoping to keep it that way because they have all showed determination and hunger to win. They know the importance of winning against South Africa so that they can qualify for the finals in Ghana,” he said.

Considering the first leg is at home, Montšo said his side is not fazed.

He said it would be vital to post a positive result in the first leg so that they make the task easier playing away.

“It is good that we are starting at home because we have a chance to win the first leg. This will ease the pressure going into the second leg away.

“It is important that the side is fit mentally and physically because such fixtures can be straining,” Montšo said.