Botswana expected on Saturday for COSAFA Cup tie

The Botswana senior national soccer side, the Zebras, will arrive a day before the much awaited Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) Castle Cup clash against their Lesotho counterparts
Likuena set for February 29 at the Setsoto stadium in Maseru.

The preliminary round, played over just one leg, will decide which between the two sides proceeds to the second stage of this regional tournament.

In an interview, Likuena team manager Thabo Pule said the Zebras are expected to arrive at Moshoeshoe I International airport by chartered flight at 10.45 am. This was to the visitors advantage since weather conditions in both countries do not differ much, such that the Zebras do not need to acclimatise themselves to Lesotho's conditions as opposed to other teams which would have had to be here at least three days earlier.

The team manager said Likuena have been boosted by the arrival of three South Africa based athletes Lebajoa Mphongoa and Lehlohonolo Seema who are doing duty for the First division side Bloemfontein Celtic as well as Paballo Mpakanyane also with first division club Welkom Stars.

He said the atmosphere is high at the camp as there are no injuries, adding that his charges are ready to reverse the score against the side that inflicted a 4-1 hiding at the African Cup of Nations and World cup
preliminary rounds in Gaborone, Botswana last year. Mr. Pule mentioned that as part of their final preparations, they would play Bloemfontein Celtic in an international friendly on Wednesday afternoon at Seeisa Ramabodu stadium.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pule said COSAFA Castle cup tickets would be sold at M20 and M15 for adults sitting at the royal and open stands respectively. He urged spectators to come at the stadium early to avoid stampede.
It would be for the first time Lesotho and Botswana meet in the regional tournament since its inception in 1997 and the host side has reached the final stage in 2000 after losing to Zimbabwe.

Spectators who would arrive early will witness a soccer match involving Mokhotlong and Thaba Tseka districts and supporters from both places are expected to follow their teams.

16 February 2004