Nkhasi promises better performance

Mehalalitoe captain Boitumelo Rabale in action

Newly appointed Lesotho women senior national team, Mehalalitoe, coach Lehloenya Nkhasi promises a better performance at the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Women’s Championship.

 The championship will take place in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa from November 3-14, with Mehalalitoe pitted against last year’s runners up Zambia and semi-finalists Malawi in Group B.

 Mehalalitoe, who did not compete at the 2019 edition, will start with a game against Zambia on November 4 before taking on Malawi on November 7.

Nkhasi has on Wednesday this week announced his final squad for the competition.

 The squad is dominated by the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Ladies team players, mixed with foreign based players who play in South Africa and the USA. They are 19 players in total, who have been selected from a 30-provisional team. 

 “We have two goalkeepers, namely Thuto Maifo and Boitumelo Nkeane,” said Nkhasi in a press briefing at LeFA headquarters, Bambatha Ts’ita Sports Arena on Wednesday.

“Maifo is from Motheo Ladies in South Africa. She has been there with the national team before and she is experienced as well, and Nkeane is playing for the South African team called Grasslands Ladies in Free State.”

Nkhasi said they had selected a very balanced with three central defenders and three fullbacks.

 “And among them we have utility player, who is a player who can suit in all those defence positions.”

 Nkhasi further said they had some utility players in the midfield.

 ‘We (also) have utility players in the midfield who can play in different positions in case there may be challenges or as per tactics on the day, meaning we would able to switch in a way we would want to tactically.”

 Nkhasi however admitted that Mehalalitoe are in a tough group, but said his team is also equally good for the task.

 “We are in the group of tough teams and we are starting with a game against Zambia.

 “This is the tough group because Zambia advanced to the final of the competition last year where were beaten by South Africa, and Malawi were knocked out in the semi-finals.”

 Nkhasi further said: “So this tells you that they have good teams. But what I can tell you is that we have a good team too.”

 Mehalalitoe coach said they are ready for the games against Zambia and Malawi, who he said his team is a closed book for both of their opponents.

 “So we will plan well against them and we don’t have that much pressure.

 “We have a task at hand. We know them while they don’t know us,” Nkhasi said.

 The Zambia team, Nkhasi said has a lot of experienced players who he said among them there are about four to five players who play overseas, who he said they are good players.

He said Malawi also have about three players playing in China, and are all very good players.

“But at the same time we have players who are playing in America and South Africa. So we have the crafters as well.

 “And so we will be ready by the time we play them, and our aim is to play better that last time.”

 Nkhasi however said their plan is to play one game by the time.

He said he doesn’t want to put pressure on his players or anybody who is associated to the team.

“But what I can tell is that we going to give a fight and we are aiming high,” he said.

 Mehalalitoe leave this Saturday after preparing for the competition for just three weeks, with Nkhasi having only selected his final team last Friday.

 The team could not play even one international friendly or practice match against any team outside the country since it is not easy to get such matches during this period of the COVID-19.

Nkhasi said this was why he had to select a lot of players from the LDF Ladies, who he said they are all fresh from the military training and as a result they are physically good.

“This is since the time is no longer on our side as the competition commences next week.

“So we could not have enough time to work on the physical aspect of the players and that’s why we have a lot of players from the LDF team,” Nkhasi said.

 This is also since the local players were inactive for a long time because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

LDF Ladies are Lesotho’s champions, having won Women Super League more than twice in a row, all under Nkhasi’s guidance as he is also the current coach for LDF Ladies.            

 Mehalalitoe squad

Goalkeepers: Thuto Maifo (Motheo Ladies, South Africa) and Boitumelo Nkeane (Grasslands Ladies, South Africa).

Defenders: Mosili Mots’oeneng (Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies, South Africa), Monts’eng Matete (Semunye Ladies, South Africa), ’Mamoruti Ntsiki, Lerato Kheme, Ts’oanelo Leboka and Ntsatsi Khakanyo (LDF Ladies).

Midfielders: Boitumelo Rabale (Lewis and Clark College, in USA), Maseriti Mohlolo, Palesa Mpeta, Nts’abeng Pelea, ’Mamasoabi Monese and Mosele Pita (LDF Ladies).

Strikers: Senate Letsie (Lewis and Clark College, in USA), Lits’eoane Maloro (Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies), Kholu Lebakeng, Phuzile Molefe and Nthabeleng Potsane (LDF Ladies).