Mehalalitoe boss says we’re ready

PORT ELIZABETH – Lesotho women’s national team coach Pule Khojane is upbeat about his side’s COSAFA Women’s Championship opener against Eswatini today.

Lesotho begins its Group B campaign at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, South Africa and Khojane said he is expecting an even game and insisted Mehalalitoe will give Eswatini a run for their money.

Mehalalitoe are making their return to the annual regional showpiece after a year’s absence from international competitions.

The team arrived in Gqeberha on Monday and had two training sessions, one on Tuesday and another yesterday. Khojane said the players’ morale has been high since the team’s arrival in South Africa and he feels they are mentally ready for battle.

The other teams in Group B are Namibia and Zambia, and Khojane said Mehalalitoe are raring to tackle Eswatini today.

“I am not much aware of what type of players (Eswatini) have but, by the look of things, I think they mixed the team like us,” Khojane said.

“I am expecting a 50/50 game, so the only thing we are going to do is to work very hard to try to get three points, not minding much what they are doing,” he added.

The former Sky Battalion coach has made several changes to the Mehalalitoe setup since he took over as coach in May.

His efforts to refresh the team have resulted in a much-changed squad from Lesotho’s last appearance at the COSAFA Women’s Championship in 2020 when the team suffered heavy defeats to Malawi and Zambia.

Khojane said there is a different feeling around the squad this time around.

He said the players have vowed to fight on the field and if Mehalalitoe manage to get out of the group stage, it would mark the first time Lesotho achieves that since it started competing at the tournament in 2002.

The former Lesotho Defence Force forward Litšeoane Maloro, who now plays for Tshwane University of Technology, is expected to lead Mehalalitoe’s attack. Her leadership qualities will come in handy for her and her teammates to take advantage of the opportunity to showcase their talents to fans and scouts.

After playing Eswatini today, Mehalalitoe will face Zambia on Sunday before their group finale against Namibia next Tuesday. The winners of groups A, B and C as well as the best runner-up from the three groups will proceed to next week’s semi-finals.

Lesotho’s past five tournaments:
2017 – Group Stage
2018 – Group Stage
2019 – Did not enter
2020 – Group Stage
2021 – Did not enter

Lesotho’s rankings:
FIFA Ranking: 167
CAF Ranking: 36

Tlalane Phahla