Makoanyane XI coach Moses Maliehe explains why Sunday’s match against Swaziland is a must-win for his charges
By Moorosi Tsiane
MASERU –– National under-20 team coach Moses Maliehe is confident his charges will progress to the next stage of the African Youth Championship qualifiers at the expense of Swaziland.
Makoanyane XI, as the Lesotho under-20 side is popularly known, on Sunday host the Swazis in the return leg of their preliminary tie of the continental championship hoping to build on the 3-0 first-leg win secured in Mbabane three weeks ago.
A brace from Likhopo winger Tumelo Khutlang, and one strike from Lioli playmaker Teboho Lekhooa, saw Makoanyane XI outclass Swaziland 3-0 at their own back yard on April 5, with the two teams meeting again on April 27 at Setsoto Stadium for the decisive reverse tie.
Yet Maliehe fully knows the folly of underrating an opponent, particularly in a game as fickle as football.
“It is not going to be an easy match as a lot is expected from us since we will be playing at home following a good win away in Swaziland,” Maliehe on Tuesday pointed out to the Lesotho Times.
“But our approach is not going to be any different from the way we went into the first leg match of the qualifiers because we will be playing the same attacking football to make the Swazis uncomfortable.”
Maliehe was assistant to then coach Leslie Notši when Makoanyane XI qualified for the 2011 edition of the Youth Championship, and believes that experience would be invaluable as he hopes to take his charges all the way to the final of the competition.
“My international experience will be important coming into these matches because this is where we take charge of young players who need a lot of guidance.
“At the moment, I am satisfied with the team although there are certain areas we still have to work on. I have been working hard to improve those departments, as well as the fitness-level of the players.”
Maliehe further said his team needs to win against Swaziland to make up for the disappointment of failing to go beyond the first round of last December’s Cosafa Youth Championship, which Lesotho hosted amid such great expectations.
“We still have a debt to settle with the nation; we let the people down in last year’s Cosafa Games and this is the time we right that wrong,” said Maliehe.
“The boys understand we have to qualify for this tournament for Basotho.”
Swaziland must score three times without conceding to force the match into penalties — or score four times without letting in any goal to advance and meet Angola in the next stage of the qualifiers.
