Sports

Future is bright for Mehalalitoe

Published

2 years ago

September 20, 2022

MASERU – For a long time, Lesotho’s national women’s team, Mehalalitoe, have been the butt of jokes on social media and the players have often had to deal with unsavoury comments and, at times, even homophobia.

What many do not realise is how their mean commentary on the team affects players mentally.

Yes, the performance of the national women’s team in the past has warranted some criticism, and they should be criticised when it is justified, but, more than anything, Mehalalitoe needs support.

Before the team departed for the 2022 COSAFA Women’s Championship three weeks ago, the side’s head coach, Pule Khojane, praised the positive spirit within the camp and he felt this time around Mehalalitoe’s performances would reflect their positive energy.

That positivity reigned throughout the tournament.

Mehalalitoe were upbeat when they arrived in Port Elizabeth for the regional showpiece and they appeared determined to improve their tattered reputation in the competition.
The team’s management took the lead.

Lesotho were staying at the same hotel as Eswatini and Botswana. Prior to their opening Group B game against Eswatini, their opponents asked for a team-bonding meeting but Mehalalitoe were not having it.

Their answer was that they were not there to make friends but to compete. They suggested to Eswatini that the bonding happen after the game which, of course, never happened. Eswatini were beaten 3-0.

On the way to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the players were in good spirits; they hardly sat down on the bus and sang all the way from the hotel to the stadium.

In Port Elizabeth, Mehalalitoe had a close-knit family which believed in them, including Mahlohonolo, a Xhosa lady who was Lesotho’s loud and proud team liaison officer at the COSAFA Women’s Championship.

She never sat down during Lesotho’s matches and she shouted at the top of her lungs for the full 90 minutes cheering for the players.

If you entered Mehalalitoe’s dressing room ahead of their opener you would have been forgiven for thinking they had just won the whole tournament, but they hadn’t even played.

Was that their way of calming nerves? Or maybe it was a sign of togetherness in the team, a group that had one goal and confidence in each other?

Even more inspiring for the team was that they were with their leader, Boitumelo Rabale, who had hopped off the plane from Johannesburg that morning straight into the line-up.

The Mamelodi Sundowns star and African club champion went on and wrote her name all over the tie scoring a hat-trick.

The skipper had been complaining about exhaustion before the game but insisted on fighting with her teammates on the pitch. She was visibly tired against Eswatini, and understandably so, she had just played a day before for her club which is why her participation had been in doubt.

Rabale played four games in seven days, which is unheard off. Still, her quality shone throughout and it is no surprise that she was selected into the team of the tournament when all was said and done.

Surprisingly, there were no over-the-top celebrations after Lesotho beat Eswatini. Instead, the players wanted to rest and their minds were already on the next game.

That said, the players were beaming with happiness after beating Eswatini because it was Mehalalitoe’s first win since 2017. Lately the team had not just been losing, even scoring goals was a big ask for Lesotho.

The players believed their win over Eswatini was a milestone moment.

Then came Zambia three days later, a game I had personally been dreading.

I cracked jokes with Zambian reporters prior to the game who suggested Lesotho would gladly take a point and not play the game if offered; I agreed.

The match ended 7-0 to Zambia, with Barbara Banda running the show. It’s not like Mehalalitoe were outclassed, they were outdone by individual mistakes. Khojane felt it was a difficult game mentally for his players as they faced a team that just finished third at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July.

Khojane said conceding three quick goals in the first half affected Mehalalitoe and he insisted the final score-line did not reflect his side’s performance on the pitch.

Zambia went on to be crowned champions of the COSAFA Women’s Championships and there is no shame in losing to one of the giants of women’s football on the continent who also happen to be bound for the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year.

Lesotho’s final group game was against Namibia two days after the defeat to Zambia and the match would decide who gets the last spot into the semi-finals.

Normally, after a big defeat, you would expect a sombre mood but it was not the case with Mehalalitoe.

The following training session after losing to Zambia was the most cheerful that I have seen. It was a light one and the players teased each other.

They formed two small groups and enjoyed a little rivalry they had created. Khojane then put them up for a crossbar challenge and they loved that one.

The relationship between the coaching staff and the players is intriguing because while there is a clear level of respect, there is also a lot of playfulness. The players seemed more comfortable with either the team’s assistant coach, Makobo Kepa, or goalkeeper coach, Robert Mojakhomo.

Although Mehalalitoe went on to lose 2-0 to Namibia, and it was a painful defeat, they did everything right and they fell behind against the run of play.

With all the positivity, there are still some glaring problems in the team, mainly the goalkeeping department. Some of the goals Mehalalitoe conceded were avoidable and could have been saved.

Some were just down to bad positioning.

Khojane vowed his team will return better and stronger. Mehalalitoe have definitely shown signs of improvement and one thing is clear: there is something different about this group of players.

They could do with more public support.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Ramakongoana off to World Athletics Championships

Published

7 days ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

Lesotho Olympian Tebello Ramakongoana has booked a ticket to the 2025 World Athletics Championships after finishing second at the C&D Xiamen Marathon in China on Sunday.

Ramakongoana ran a brilliant race at the global event, and he finished in a Lesotho record time of 2:06:18 hours, just 12 seconds shy of first place.

Ethiopian Dawit Wolde secured title ahead of Ramakongoana in a time of 2:06:06.

Ramakongoana’s time has earned him automatic qualification to the World Championships set to be held in Tokyo in September this year and his performance in China took 1:40 minutes off the national record he set when he finished seventh at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

When speaking to local media, Ramakongoana’s American coach, James McKirdy, said the weather was warm but after 10 kilometres the sun appeared.

He said Ramakongoana ran a mostly strategic race with the focus to be amongst the front pack in the early stages of the race.

After 35km, the Olympian increased tempo and pushed the leading pack of 12 men that was a deciding point on who would make the podium.

From there the numbers in the leading group started to dwindle and with two kilometres to go, only four were in the running for podium places.

“(By) pushing hard, Tebello finished in 2:06:18 and earned 2nd place, both his time and his finishing position earned him the automatic standard for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo later this year,” McKirdy said.

“The Xiamen Marathon is an out and back course with moderate hills along the coast of China.

“Tebello’s time was also under the former course record and now sits as the second fastest time ever run for the event,” he continued.

The athlete is currently abroad in the United States where he is based and training.

He was Lesotho’s standout performer at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Ramakongoana finished fourth at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and he will hope to claim a medal at this year’s games scheduled to be held from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Ramalefane request unsettles Matlama

Published

7 days ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

Matlama’s season, brimming with potential and promise, now teeters on the brink of unnecessary distraction due to the off-pitch antics of goalkeeper Monaheng Ramalefane.

His request to be released from his contract after losing his starting position to Leluma Mofoka has sparked a debate about professionalism, teamwork, and respect for contracts in football on social media.

Ramalefane’s behaviour should be a reminder that football is a team sport, not a platform for individual egos.

It is the timing of his letter as well that leaves a sour taste, with Matlama sitting atop the Vodacom Premier League and preparing for a crucial game against Majantja.

It’s a moment when the club needs unity, not controversy.

Yet, Ramalefane’s actions could undermine the club’s campaign.

What makes this scenario even more remarkable is Ramalefane’s history.

He once was the young shot-stopper, benching senior goalkeepers to become Matlama’s number one.

Now, with Mofoka in the ascendancy, Ramalefane appears unable to cope with the same competition he once thrived in.

Instead of embracing the challenge, he has chosen to walk away, which raises questions about his mentality and commitment.

Such behaviour is disappointing, not just for Matlama but for the broader Lesotho football community.

Ramalefane has been on the national team radar, with many believing he had the potential to be Likuena’s number one.

However, his antics, including skipping national team duties in the past, suggest a worrying trend of indiscipline.

Talent alone is not enough; discipline and a strong work ethic are equally important, qualities that Ramalefane seems to be lacking.

Matlama’s management need to act decisively to prevent his discontent from spreading within the squad.

Allowing such behaviour to go unchecked could set a bad precedent.

However, I do think this is an opportunity for the goalkeeper to reflect.

Rather than seeking an easy exit, perhaps he should consider the impact of his actions on his teammates and the supporters.

It would be best for him to put his head down, work hard, and earn back his spot.

With the fans, who have supported Matlama through thick and thin, he is unlikely to have many sympathisers on his side.

I think the fans would respect and love a player who fights for his place rather than one who demands special treatment when things don’t go their way.

Ultimately, this situation is a test for Matlama as a club and Ramalefane’s maturity as a professional.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Double header at Bambata

Published

7 days ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

The Vodacom Premier League resumes this weekend after the Christmas break, and football fans are gearing up for what should be an exciting second half of the season.

Five teams are in the race to claim the coveted premiership trophy and the exciting title chase has seen scores of football fans flock to the grounds this season.

What makes the league’s restart even more interesting is the open January transfer window, which adds another layer of excitement as enthusiasts follow along as clubs hustle to bolster their squads for the business end of the season.

On the field, the action gets underway on Saturday when the first double header of the New Year takes place at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.

The first encounter will see Bantu, who are currently third on the log standings, take on bottom side ACE Maseru.

Title-chasing Bantu have an opportunity to close the gap on leaders Matlama to just two points with a victory, and ‘A Matšo Matebele’ would still have a game in hand.

ACE Maseru, other the other, remain winless this season and are rooted to the bottom of the table with only three points from 12 games.

As things stand, the premiership debutants require a miraculous turnaround if they are to avoid a swift return to the second tier.

In the second game of the double header, defending champions Lioli will take on another relegation threatened outfit in 15th-placed Mzamane.

A win for the champions would bring them within a point of leaders Matlama.

Matlama, for their part, have a difficult away game against Majantja in Mohale’s Hoek on Sunday.

Majantja, 10th on the log with 14 points, are aiming to finish in the top eight.

For Matlama, the match is critical to maintaining their lead but they will need to dig deep to secure maximum points on the road.

Elsewhere, Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) will take on Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) in a rivalry clash at Ratjomose Ground on Saturday.

The match is vital for both teams for different reasons.

Third-placed LMPS, currently level on points with Bantu, need a win to keep pace in the title race while 9th-placed LCS are desperate to kick-start what has been a disappointing campaign by their standards.

Lifofane and Linare’s encounter in Butha-Buthe is another game to lookout for.

Struggling Linare, who are languishing in 11th-place, will hope to gain some momentum against a Lifofane side that is riding high in sixth place.

The patience of Linare fans is wearing thin and a win is imperative for ‘Tse Tala’ to retain their supporters’ trust.

Weekend fixtures:

Saturday 11th January
Lioli vs Mzamane (Bambatha 16:30) (Live on FIFA+)
LCS vs LMPS (Ratjomose 16:00) (Live on FIFA+)
Bantu vs ACE Maseru (Bambatha 14:00)
Manonyane vs Machokha (Nyakosoba 16:00)
Sunday 12th January
Majantja vs Matlama (Mohale’s Hoek 16:00)
LDF vs Liphakoe (Ratjomose 16:00)
Lifofane vs Linare (Butha-Buthe 16:00)
Lijabatho vs LU FC (Morija 16:00)

Tlalane Phahla