Makoanyane XI on a Mission to Zimbabwe

Lesotho’s Under 20 national squad Makoanyane XI leave the country on September 27 for Harare, Zimbabwe to meet their Zimbabwean counterparts in the African Youth championships qualifier on Sunday October 3.

In an interview, the Lesotho Football Association’s (LEFA) Administrative Secretary ,Mr. Sello Lesita said a 25 member squad would be leaving the country with one mission: to accomplish their dream of making it for the first time ever to the continental soccer showpiece scheduled for Benin, early next year.

He said the coaches had not as yet reported any injuries, since many players were still at their various academic and technical institutions both locally and internationally.

“The tournament is crucial since overall winners in both legs would qualify for the finals. We have confidence that the current squad and technical team headed by Mr. Seepheephe ‘Mochine’ Matete  will deliver,” he added.

Mr. Lesita said people should not read much into the recent poor showing in the Four-Nations FESA Soccer tournament, which featured Makoanyane XI, Swaziland and Tanzania as well as the host country Angola in Luanda in August.

The local team displayed quality performance despite not being able to score goals, losing two matches: 1 - 0 against Mozambique and a 2-1 loss at the hands of Swaziland and managing to hold the hosts to a goalless draw.

Despite failing to win a single match in Angola, Makoanyane XI was awarded a prize for being the best team at the tournament.

Makoanyane XI eliminated South Africa while Madagascar withdrew in the preliminary stages, and were thus able to book a place in the last round of the tournament.

The second leg will be played in Maseru home on October 24. The winner of this clash will head for Benin.

Meanwhile, local Under 17 squad Bahlabani will engage Angolans in a  decisive match in November to pave the way for the  African Junior championship finals in Gambia.

The locals bundled Botswana out of the Champions in the first round  in August by a 4-2 goal aggregate.

24 September 2004