LIKUENA OPT TO PLAY BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE
 
Lesotho's senior national side Likuena will play two international friendly games against Botswana's Zebras and Zimbabwe's Warriors in a week's time starting on Sunday in Gaborone. In an interview, the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) Mr. Boniface Mokalanyane told LENA on Monday19 August,2002 that in a desperate move after struggling to secure any international friendly match
for some time, the team will now entertain Zebras. Mr. Mokalanyane said the local boys will proceed to play Zimbabwe the following weekend as part of their final preparations for the crucial first leg of the qualifying African Cup of Nations (ACN) against Senegal next month.

The CEO pointed out that Likuena commences fulltime training from Monday with the final 20 selected players. He explained that the team is expected to intensify training by attending training sessions twice a day at the Police Training College (PTC). Since being bundled out of the Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) Castle cup tournament in July by Mozambique, Likuena failed to convince South Africa for the celebration of King's birthday on July 17 and the long planned match aborted at the eleventh hour following the latter's withdrawal.

As if that was not enough, Likuena was scheduled to host Swaziland last Sunday as part of both teams preparations for various continental competitions but after the visitors' players demand increase in appearance fees, the match was called off last Friday only to find that the Swazis tried to honour the game which eventually also failed due to unfavorable rainy conditions. Likuena squad will play the next international without their international players Lehlohonolo Seema and Lebajoa Mphongoa due to injury and suspension while first choice goalkeeper Ts'eliso Thite failed to turn up for training sessions.

19 August,2002

  SOURCE: LENA