Free State based duo join Likuena in readiness for Zebras tie on February 29. 

Free State based Lebajoa Mphongoa and Lehlohonolo Seema joined the national soccer side, Likuena, on February 23, just a week before their scheduled tie against Botswana Zebras in A Council of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA) Castle Cup match at the Setsoto Stadium Maseru, on February 29. 

The two internationals, plying their trade with Free State based first division side, Bloemfontein Celtic striker, join the team at this late stage following protracted negotiations with the Celtic management who were reluctant to release the duo because of a crunch league match on the eve of the Botswana game. 

In an interview, Likuena team manager, Thabo Pule, said they agreed with Celtic that Mphongoa and Seema would be released from camp on Friday, February 27 to attend the Celtic encounter with Classic.
The players would then be whisked away immediately after the match to join the rest of the Likuena players in camp.

The manager pointed out that head coach Mafa Ramakau promised to take the boys through their paces to
test their fitness after this game and long trip from Gauteng to Maseru.

Pule announced that three other players, goalkeeper Thabo Khoboli, Maliele Lesoetsa and Kolisang Makhetha are nursing an assortment of injuries and have been ruled out of the COSAFA clash. Coach Ribbo Ramakau would be announcing his 18-member squad out of the provisional list of 23 players.

They were confident they would beat the Zebras this time around following the humiliating defeat against the same side in the African Cup of Nations and World Cup preliminary rounds through a 4-1 aggregate score, he said.

He also announced that they alternated in using the stadium with Matlama who are also gearing up for a crunch Africa champions league against South Africa's Orlando Pirates.

23 February 2004