Moorosi Tsiane
FORMER Likuena coach, Motheo Mohapi says this is the right time for Bantu to stamp their feet and show the rest of other local teams that anything is possible in football when they face AS Vita in a CAF Champions League do-or-die match at Setsoto Stadium this afternoon.
Bantu go into the match under pressure as they have to score at least three goals without a response as they lost the first leg 4-1 in Kinshasa last weekend.
Mohapi, who was part of the LDF side which was the last local team to play at this stage of the tournament in 2002 advised A Matšo Matebele that they should stay calm and stick to their tactics on the day.
“It is not going to be an easy match especially because they conceded multiple goals away from home,” Mohapi said.
“Playing at home can also work against the home team as it puts them under a lot of pressure but on the other hand, it can work for them.
“But most importantly, Bantu must now forget about the first match and stay focused on the second leg. They should approach this match very calmly and avoid putting themselves under pressure which will see them either missing chances. As the principle says, “accuracy first and the speed will follow”. This means that they must work on getting things right first.”
Mohapi, who is currently the LDF coach, said Bantu’s target of three clean goals can be reached depending on the team’s determination.
“This is football and everything is possible. Bantu should be more determined. They can do this and can even do much better and leave all of us shocked. They must go out there with all the confidence,” he said.
Six to Six, as this former Likuena midfielder is known, admitted that AS Vita is a big team than Bantu but said determination will carry the day.
“We have watched World Cups and many other tournaments where we have seen upsets happen. Of course, AS Vita are a big team and DRC is more developed when it comes to football than us but Bantu can do this. We have played one of the DRC sides, TP Mazembe before and we lost 2-0 away and drew here at home. They are more developed than us, I know but let us play to our strengths and the pace that can allow us to make right decisions.”
He said for Bantu to advance into the group stages of this tournament will mean a lot for Lesotho football.
“They are not only representing the Mafeteng community but Basotho at large so they must know that and go out there to fight for the country. Their win will mean so much for the country because it will start to make a mark for Lesotho football,” Mohapi said.
“I hope all Basotho can come out in great numbers to support Bantu because like I said, they are representing us all. Fans should stop this practice of booing players because that demotivates them. There is no player who goes into the field to make mistakes and we should understand that,” Mohapi said.
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