MASERU — Lesotho’s Under-17 national team has vowed to bring gold from the Metropolitan Under-19 Premier Cup in South Africa.
Dubbed Bahlabani, which literally means heroes, the team left the country yesterday for the 32-team Premier Cup tournament in Cape Town.
The games started yesterday and will end on April 25.
Bahlabani will face South Africa’s Santos FC, Morgenster United and Riverside Rangers in the group stage.
Bahlabani coach Bishop Molatoli said although this will be the first international outing since establishing the team after the bulk of players were promoted to the Under-19 team last year, they were aiming to bring gold.
“Honestly speaking, the boys are playing a good brand of football and our only intention is to bring gold home after this tournament,” Molatoli said.
“No one goes to war with the intention to lose but we go there to win and make everyone around proud,” he said.
The team had played a number of local friendly matches to ensure that they are ready and able to coordinate well under pressure.
“We played several matches against Matlama, Likhopo, Lioli, Qoaling Highlanders and Lithabaneng Golden FC and I am very happy with the combination and the kind of football they play,” Molatoli said.
However, they had not trained as they would have wanted because of school commitments.
“Our intention was to practice twice a day but we could not because all our players are still students and must attend school,” the coach said.
Meanwhile, Maluti Mountain Brewery handed over a football ground worth M32 000 to Letsie High School in Thaba Bosiu on Tuesday.
Officially launching the ground, Maluti Mountain Brewery managing director Anthony Grendon said they were happy to be associated with the community.
“It is important to thank people (Lesotho Institute of Sports Associations – Lisa) who align us to get involved in developing sports in this country,” Grendon said.
“It is also important for us as a company to ensure that the community is part of us because I am sure good international players like Didier Drogba once played in a field like the one we are officially launching today,” he said.
Letsie High School board member Mafa Mahao said: “We thank everyone for this gift, especially the boys (players) and the coach who worked hard to win this prize.”
The ground was handed over to Letsie High School after winning a Copa Coca-Cola schools tournament held at Lesotho High School last year.
The M35 000 prize money was to be used to develop football facilities at the winning school.
