MASERU — Lesotho’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign have suffered a setback with the news that a proposed friendly match against Botswana on August 10 has been postponed.
Likuena team manager Khiba Mohoanyane confirmed the development yesterday saying the tie is now off as Botswana will be playing Kenya on the same date.
Botswana had planned to play Lesotho on July 27 in Pretoria but the match was considered to be too early in Likuena’s preparation programme by Lesotho’s technical team.
Botswana spent the last week at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria in preparation for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo in September and Lesotho had aimed to take advantage of this to engage them.
Mohoanyane said they were now looking at engaging Swaziland on the same date.
Consultations were already under way, he added.
Likuena coach Leslie Notši only convened a 42-man provisional team three weeks ago that is set to be cut down to 22 next week.
Meanwhile speaking to the Lesotho Times on Tuesday Notši said he had spoken to national captain Lehlohonolo Seema.
Notši said they agreed to leave out the Orlando Pirates defender when the coach calls his foreign-based stars to the Likuena later this month.
Seema is still in rehabilitation after an injury that put paid to his 2010/11 Premier Soccer League campaign.
“I had a telephone chat with him. He is still the captain of the country.
“He has played at the highest level for a long time and he is somebody that the country needs,” Notši said.
“I had a lengthy discussion with him and a decision that he will not be included in the squad.”
Notši said he hoped Seema would be ready to face Burundi in November.
“By November hopefully his physiotherapist will give him the thumbs up,” he added. Notši said Tunisia-based Bokang Mothoana who recently signed a new contract with his team the US Monastir had a slight injury but was raring to go.
