MASERU

The sport fraternity has opened a new chapter with the dawn of the New Year, closing what was a difficult year for football.

Last year began in grief when, in February, the football fraternity mourned the death of former Likuena coach Moses Maliehe, who lost his life following a long illness.

It was his Likuena side that famously came close to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, but suffered a heartbreak on the final day of the qualifiers, playing to a draw with Cape Verde when they needed a victory to book a ticket to Egypt.

While the country was still mourning for Maliehe, the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) announced the untimely passing of Mehalalitoe head coach Pule Khojane after a short illness.

Khojane was also the association’s Coach Educator, a role he also held with Africa’s football governing body, CAF.

However, it was not all doom and gloom in sport.

Other sporting codes achieved major highs in 2024, one of which was Lesotho being granted full membership by World Rugby after being associate members for only two years.

Lesotho was one of three countries – alongside Egypt and Guatemala – that were elevated to full World Rugby member
status after approval during the international federation’s council meeting on November 14.

Another highlight came last October when the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) played host to International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Dr Thomas Bach, who made a high profile visit to the country.

Bach was in Lesotho on a two-day visit as part of his tour across the African continent.

Bach’s trip aimed to emphasise the increasing significance of Africa in the Olympic Games as well as to acknowledge and encourage the development of sports in Lesotho.

Upon his arrival in the country, Bach met with the Minister of Sports, Motlatsi Maqelepo.

Bach also paid a courtesy call on the acting Prime Minister, Selibe Mochoboroane, followed by a tour of Lehakoe Sports Arena.

Meanwhile, a difficult year for football ended on a positive note with LEFA announcing the return of league champions to the CAF Champions League next year.

The sports fraternity will be hoping the new year brings even more positives for the country.

Tlalane Phahla

MASERU

Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Football Club look set for a long-awaited homecoming to their cherished colliseum when Vodacom Premier League action returns later this month.

It has been three months since the LCS Ground was banned from hosting league games when premiership sponsors, Vodacom, demanded the venue be stripped of hosting rights for the 2024/25 season.

Vodacom was unhappy because the LCS Ground is branded with the colours of their rival telecommunications company, Econet Telecom Lesotho.

‘Masheshena’ has been fighting to regain use of their home ground ever since and, in the meantime, they have been forced to pack their bags and use Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena and Ratjomose Ground as home grounds.

The six-time league champions have struggled without their home turf advantage and find themselves languishing in ninth place having already lost five of their 11 matches this season.

The New Year, however, appears to have brought good tidings for LCS fans and talks between the club, the Premier League and sponsors Vodacom are said to be at an advanced stage.

Speaking to thepost this week, ‘Masheshena’ spokesperson Kofa Rantai confirmed talks have been positive and plans are afoot to have the club back at their home ground.

“The talks are advanced and the plan is to host our second round games at our ground,” Rantai told thepost.

“We still have four games left in the first round and we will play those games in January and maybe one of those games will be at LCS but our plan is for the second round games,” he added.

Not only have LCS had to hire grounds but they have also missed out on precious revenue as other Premier League teams such as Liphakoe and Machokha, used to rent the LCS Ground to use as their home ground.

“In the coming weeks we will know more, however, I can say it has been very costly hosting games at Bambatha because when you hire the ground, you also have to hire a cleaning company.

“Sometimes we played at Ratjomose, which we also had to pay for,” Rantai said.

The Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) chairman, Moeketsi Ramakatsa, confirmed that the LCS ground is set to be part of the Vodacom Premier League season in the second round.

The ban on the venue also gave the PLMC a painful headache because there are not enough grounds that can host elite league matches.

The LCS Ground was one of few arenas that met most of the requirements set out by the PLMC.

Tlalane Phahla

Likuena will need a significant turnaround in the second leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers after a 2-0 loss to Angola at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Goals from Pedro Pessoa and Caporal in the first half put Lesotho on the back foot early, making a comeback difficult. Head coach Leslie Notši acknowledged the challenges but said his team displayed improved performance in the second half.

“Conceding two early goals that’s where the difference was, they dominated the first half but I thought we came back better in the second half we tried to create opportunities which I think we could have done better, for us that’s something we can build on,” Notši said when speaking to the reporters in a post-match press conference.

He also took note of Angola’s quality and consistency but insisted that his team remains determined to show up and compete in the return leg in Luanda next week. Even though, the odds are stacked against them, Notši sees this as a learning opportunity for his young players.

“It was locally based player but you can see that they have quality in their team. There are a lot of good attributes that we took from the match, there are youngsters in our team and I think they had a good run,” he said.

“The second leg in Luanda is a tough match but we still believe in ourselves, we will give them the respect due to them but at the same time we are going there to be competitive. It’s an opportunity for our boys to get this kind of opportunities to improve themselves,” he continued.

Despite slim chances of qualification, Likuena aims to build on the positives from their first-leg showing.

Likuena squad

Goalkeepers

Tankiso Chaba (LCS), Ntsane Molise (Linare) Leluma Mofoka (Matlama).

Defenders

Rethabile Mokokoane (Matlama), Mohlomi Makhetha (LCS), Thabo Mafatle (Bantu), Mpho Hlephole (Lioli), Thabo Matšoele, Rethabile Rasethuntša (both Linare)

Midfielders

Lisema Lebokollane (Matlama), Jerry Kamela (Lioli), Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Moteloa Khemisi, Hlompho Kalake (all Bantu) Tšepo Toloane, Lehlohonolo Matsau (both LDF),  Paseka Maile (Kick4Life).

Forwards

Jane Thabantšo (Matlama), Katleho Makateng (LDF), Keketso Snyders (LCS).

Tlalane Phahla