Seturumane, Mahula back in Likuena squad

Mikia Kalati

LIKUENA coach Moses Maliehe has recalled LMPS striker Tšepo Seturumane and Matlama midfielder Kefuoe Mahula to his national team which will soon start preparations for the crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tie with Cape Verde in March this year.

Maliehe has also named South Africa based defender Thabo Sefoli, who is the teammate of Nkoto Masoabi at National First Division side, Real Kings in the squad which was announced recently.

He is joined by Morapeli Lesoetsa among the list of players who are yet to make their debut for the national team.

America based Lesia Thetsane was also named having last played for the national team in the COSAFA Cup in June last year and Maliehe says the changes he has made are positive.

“I think the changes that we have made are positive to the team,” Maliehe said.

“Every Mosotho wants to see the team qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations because we have a good chance of doing so.”

Maliehe said the spirit has been high among his players since the 1-0 win over Tanzania which boosted their chance of qualifying for the continental competition for the first time.

“The spirit has been very high among the players and I’m confident that the new faces in the squad will also feel the same.

“A player like Lesoetsa has grown and gathered a lot of exposure playing in USA and that’s positive for both the team and the player himself.

“We believe that he will add value to the team especially our striking department. He deserves that chance.

“We have been studying Cape Verde and we know it will be a tough game but everything is in our hands. We have to go there and fight,” he said.

The Likuena mentor said majority of his players were part of the Leslie Notši coached under-20 team which qualified for the African Youth Championships in 2011 and they know what it means to play in a continental competition.

Maliehe was the assistant coach at the time and says Lesotho has a realistic chance of playing at the 2019 tournament which will now be hosted in Egypt after Cameroon were late last year stripped-off the hosting rights.

“The majority of these players experienced how it feels playing in a major tournament after qualifying for the youth tournament in 2011 and we are now all dreaming of making it to the bigger stage on the continent.

“They are all positive and committed to writing a new piece of history for our football. We start our preparations next week and for the next four weeks, the focus will be on the physical part of the game.

“We have combined statistics on the players in the team and will meet them one by one to tell them where to improve because we are always following their performances at club level,” Maliehe said.

Likuena provisional squad for Cape Verde

Goalkeepers: Sam Ketsekile (LCS), Tankiso Chaba (Liphakoe), Monaheng Ramalefane (Matlama).

Defenders: Nkau Lerotholi, Basia Makepe (both LMPS), Kopano Tseka, Mafa Moremoholo (both Lioli), Lesia Thetsane (Columbia College USA), Thabo Sefoli (Real Kings).

Midfielders: Sepiriti Malefane and Setho Moshoeshoe (LCS), Tshwarelo Bereng, Luciano Matsoso & Tumelo Khutlang (all Black Leopards), Kefuoe Mahula and Jane Thabantšo (Matlama), Hlompho Kalake (Bantu), Jane Tšotleho (Louisville City USA)

Forwards: Ts’epo Seturumane (LMPS), Nkoto Masoabi (Real Kings), Motebang Sera (Matlama), Thapelo Tale (LCS), Morapeli Lesoetsa (Lewis and Clark Community College USA).