Limkokwing targets experienced players

MASERU – Limkokwing University are preparing for life in the Vodacom Premier League next season and are targeting players with experience to help them in their maiden top-flight season.

This was revealed by Limkokwing head coach Ntlaloe Ntlaloe to reporters after beating ACE Maseru on Sunday in the Nedbank Championship.

Ntlaloe said there will be new faces added to his squad that clinched promotion to the elite league and they plan for a long future in the Vodacom Premier League which is why they need to have seasoned campaigners who know what it takes to survive in the league.

Ntlaloe said they are talking to their students who play for other Vodacom Premier League clubs to come and join the team.

“We are going to rest, they are going to prepare to write, we will start again in July to play tournaments and prepare the team,” he said

“(There are) not many but there are parts of the team where we need to add. If you look at our goalkeeping, strike-force (and) even defence, we need to bring experience and we are looking into the (Vodacom) Premier League,” he said.

Limkokwing beat ACE Maseru 2-0 at Bambatha to win the Nedbank Championship which is the annual finale showdown between the respective winners of the A Division’s north and south streams.

It was sweet revenge for the North Stream winners who were dumped out of the Nedbank 8 quarterfinals by ACE Maseru who went on to win the competition last week. Ntlaloe said they learnt from the mistakes they made in the sides’ last encounter and came back better prepared.

ACE Maseru’s defeat means Machokha remains the only club to have won their stream, the A Division Top 8 as well as the Champ of Champs on their way to the Premier League. Litšilo remains the only team to have won the Top 8 after failing to win promotion.

“Last game they planned better than us, but this time around we had a lot of time to play,” Ntlaloe said.

“We had seen where they are strong and we made sure that Maine, who makes things happen for them, we made sure that our captain keeps him busy so that he stays worried about him and marks him. Because he was not able to play, their whole team’s momentum went down and we became dangerous when we had the ball,” he said.

“It’s a big motivation, they worked hard to be here it, would have been embarrassing that after their hard work there is nothing they have to show after leaving A Division,” Ntlaloe said.

“These games do a lot. They help us see where we are, even though we are playing in the A Division we have an opportunity to play teams we have not played and we see where need to improve.”

Limkokwing will now take a break and will be back for the pre season in a few weeks to prepare for their debut season in the Vodacom Premier League.

Tlalane Phahla