Tough Job Ahead for Bahlabani

In an interview, team manager Thabo Pule, leading the 25 member delegation, said they are all geared up for the encounter, with the players looking forward to the game. The players are aware of the challenge lying ahead of them, especially in view of the fact that Botswana recently dented the country's image,  humiliating both senior and junior national teams in regional competitions.

"This is our chance to restore the country's dented image in soccer circles after Botswana bundled Likuena out of the World Cup, the African Cup of Nations qualifiers as well as the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Castle Cup tournaments," he said.

Pule pointed out that Botswana's under 23 national side also sidelined the local lads out of the Olympic qualifying games and Bahlabani would be under pressure to restore the nations pride by knocking Botswana out of the competition.

The Manager however pointed out that there were several key players who are nursing an assortment of injuries but expressed the hope that they would recover before the much-awaited encounter. They had  struggled to secure a team doctor and physiotherapist but had finally secured the assistance of the Under 20s team doctor, Dr. Limpho Maile,  who, after working on the players last week, had allowed them to start light training.

The poor, bumpy pitch they were using to train on affected the injured players but they had since asked for permission to use the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Airwing grounds as a stop-gap measure before they leave for Botswana, he said.

The winner between Bahlabani and their Botswana counterparts will meet Angola in the next round with the finals staged in the Gambia next year.

22 June 2004