LCS upbeat despite loss

MASERU — In top level football pressure is the name of the game.
But even so, LCS’s faithful would surely not have expected this; one game, no goals and no points. It means just two weeks into the marathon that is the Premier League and the pressure is already on Masheshena.
Back-to-back champions in 2006/07 and 2007/08, LCS endured a poor 2008/09 campaign finishing third, 11 points off the top.
Now after starting this season with a shock 1-0 loss to Likhopo last Saturday they travel to Teyateyaneng to face Lioli on Saturday.
Things surely can’t get worse.
Not so according to LCS coach Katiso Mojakhomo. Instead he is preaching confidence.  Masheshena are looking forward to Saturday’s mega clash, and he is not under any pressure.
“It’s been a while since we have been in football, there’s no need to panic at all. What we saw on Saturday (against Likhopo) was a team that didn’t play their best. It was us who were making mistakes (and) not that Likhopo were the better team. We have to sit down and see what mistakes we made and rectify them,” Mojakhomo told the Lesotho Times on Monday.
One such mistake was the shambolic defending from an 83rd minute free-kick that led to Mokone Marabe’s winner for Likhopo.
And despite their size at the back, with Mpitsa Marai in particular, set-pieces were the achilles heel for Masheshena last season. LCS conceded vital set-piece goals in losses to LDF, Matlama and Saturday’s opponents Lioli.
“I don’t think that is a problem. We will see who plays on Saturday. I have no problems with the team we have,” Mojakhomo said.
But if LCS loses to Lioli then their title challenge would be derailed.
“After two games? It is too early,” Mojakhomo said. “There are too many games to come. On Saturday it was in their heads that they were better than Likhopo,” Mojakhomo said.
And the last time LCS was in Lioli country they lost 3-1. But Mojakhomo says that result has no bearing on what will happen. It is a chance to halt Lioli’s progress after Tse Nala enjoyed a successful start to their season, he says. 
It will be an explosive game.
“I don’t think Lioli will change their style much. Our team is not one that defends, our mentality and attitude is an attacking one. We will go out and attack,” Mojakhomo said.
“Our plan is that by Monday we have maximum points from our weekend games.”