- as Maliehe recalls Tale and Malefane
Mikia Kalati
LIKUENA coach Moses Maliehe has dropped goalkeeper Mohau Kuenane from his squad which is preparing to face Tanzania in next weekend’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match set for Setsoto Stadium.
Kuenane was a surprise inclusion in the Likuena squad for the recent double header against Uganda based on the fact that he has not been playing football at club level.
The experienced goal minder, who has had a long career at Lioli, parted ways with Tse Nala during the off-season having spent the second round of the previous campaign on loan at Kick4Life.
He was in goals in last month’s 3-0 defeat away to Uganda in Kampala.
Maliehe came under fire for Kuenane’s inclusion in the national team but recently defended his decision and recently told the media that the goalkeeper remains one of the best in the country and was in good shape having been part of their training camp in recent months.
While Maliehe was not in a position to talk about the team until the Monday’s press briefing, he told this publication that he has made a few changes to his squad that lost back-to-back matches to Uganda.
“We have changes in the team as there are at least three new faces because our focus is to get maximum points from our two remaining games,” Maliehe said.
“We know that if we don’t win these two games the dream to qualify for the 2019 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is over because for now mathematically, we still have a chance.
“We have to play Tanzania and Cape Verde where we can get six points. Both the two teams are ahead of us in the group and getting points against them can put us within a chance of still qualifying.
“So that’s our focus going into the game against Tanzania next week,” he said.
Maliehe also stated that the team rested for two weeks after their last match against Uganda to allow the players to focus on their clubs.
“We gave the players two weeks off since our last game against Uganda for them to focus on their responsibilities at their clubs as there was also the Independence Cup two weeks ago.
“But we are back training together since last week as we prepare for the game against Tanzania,” he said.
The Likuena squad will next week be joined by the South Africa based trio of Tumelo Khutlang, Nkoto Masoabi and Tshwarelo Bereng.
Meanwhile, the new faces in the team include LCS duo of Sepiriti Malefane and Thapelo Tale, who have been recalled into the team while Liphakoe goalkeeper Tankiso Chaba has replaced Kuenane.
Likuena will host the East Africa country on 18 November and will end their campaign against Cape Verde in March next year.
Likuena squad
Goalkeepers: Likano Mphuthi, Sam Ketsekile, Tankiso Chaba
Defenders: Mafa Moremoholo, Bokang Sello, Mafa Moremoholo, Nkau Lerotholi, Kopano Tseka, Basia Makepe.
Midfielders: Sepiriti Malefane, Tšepo Toloane, Tshwarelo Bereng, Hlompho Kalake, Mabuti Potloane, Tumelo Khutlang, Setho Moshoeshoe, Jane Thabantšo, Jane Tšotleho.
Forwards: Nkoto Masoabi, Thapelo Tale, Motebang Sera.
