Mikia Kalati
LIKUENA were knocked out of the African Nation Championships (CHAN) by Comoros on an aggregate 1-2 score on Sunday.
The Islanders won the first leg 2-0 and Likuena’s 1-0 home victory in the return leg on Sunday was not enough to secure their ticket to the next round of the competition.
The national team have competed in three different competitions since playing Tanzania in the opening match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on 10 June.
They drew 1-all with their hosts in Dar es Salaam and this was welcomed by many as a good start particularly as this was achieved away from home.
At the regional COSAFA Cup, Likuena beat Namibia in the quarterfinals only for their hopes to be shattered by Zimbabwe who have become a hoodoo side.
The Zimbabwe Warriors also ended Likuena’s dreams of winning the regional competition in 2000 beating the then Monaheng Monyane-coached side 6-0 on aggregate in the final. They also beat Leslie Notši’s team 2-1 in the 2013 edition in Zambia.
Despite all the promising signs, Likuena coach Moses Maliehe has come under fire for leaving out some players that some football fanatics believe should be part of the squad.
Injuries to main striker Thapelo Tale and Motebang Sera ahead of the Sunday match put the Likuena coach back in the spotlight with some saying that he should never have selected just two out and out strikers for such a busy schedule.
Last week, Maliehe was forced to call up last season Vodacom Premier League top goal scorer, Mojela Letsie, and Sandawana’s Roboama Koloti to replace the injured duo.
Unfortunately Letsie was ruled out because of injury and while Koloti made an instant impact by scoring the only goal of the match.
It is against the background of Likuena’s ongoing international schedule that the Lesotho Times has produced an assessment of the squad on the basis of their performance last season to gauge whether they justified their selection.
Goalkeepers:
Sam Ketsekile: The lanky LCS goal minder is one of the experienced goalkeepers in the premier league and has been in and out of the national team over the last ten years.
He has had shaky performances at club, but his height is his best attribute compared to most goalkeepers in the league with most of them regarded as too short for international football.
With long time Likuena first choice Mohau Kuenane seeing little action at club level due to injuries, Ketsekile was probably the best option for Maliehe who went for an experienced goalkeeper with the right height for international football.
Ketsekile did very well in the only game he played at the COSAFA Cup though could not use his height to help Likuena avoid a penalty defeat to Tanzania in the Third/Fourth place playoff.
Likano Mphuthi: The LDF player was among the best if not the best goalkeeper in the 2016/17 season.
His national career started very well in the 1-0 friendly loss to Mozambique where he also saved a penalty from Elias Pelembe.
He was also solid against Tanzania in the AFCON opener and he continued his good performances against Namibia in the quarterfinals of the COSAFA Cup.
The semi-final clash with Zimbabwe was a nightmare where he conceded four goals.
He lost his place in the next game but was restored against Comoros in the first leg where the team conceded two soft goals.
Lack of communication with his defenders appears the biggest problem with his game compared to the likes of Kuenane who commands his back four.
Defenders:
Thapelo Mokhehle: The Bantu skipper has done relatively well but his partnership with Kopano Tseka at the back has looked vulnerable at times. They were exposed against Zimbabwe conceding four goals.
This is game where they were caught ball watching and lack of communication is also another problem that has been a weakness for Likuena in recent games.
They did very well in Dar es Salaam marking out Belgium-based Tanzanian star, Mbwana Samatta, who only breached Likuena’s backline with a free kick.
Mokhehle had a solid 2016/17 season winning his first trophy as captain when Bantu were crowned league champions.
Kopano Tseka: Like Mokhehle, Tseka had moments where he played very well using his experience especially against Namibia.
He was also solid in the away game to Tanzania. He had a nightmare against Zimbabwe making errors that resulted in goals.
The fact that the partnership between him and Mokhehle was recently established could be the other reason it might take them time to understand each other.
In the first leg with Comoros, Mokhehle was injured which forced coach Maliehe to play Tseka with Motlomelo Mkwanazi and Likuena conceded two silly goals.
Tseka joined the Likuena camp after a good season at club level with Lioli.
Motlomelo Mkwanazi: the Sandawana defender is new to the Likuena set-up.
He still has to prove himself at the highest level and as one of the top defenders in the country he surely needs more game time in the Likuena side.
He was not at the level of Basia Makepe or Nkau Lerotholi and he has a lot of work to do to justify his selection ahead of the two experienced campaigners.
Bokang Sello: He has been the best left back in the league since his breakthrough at Lioli but injuries affected him and he did not have the best of seasons.
The Lioli defender was not at his best at the COSAFA Cup and made silly mistakes that contributed to the goals Likuena conceded especially against Zimbabwe.
He needs a player that can challenge him for the Likuena starting line-up.
Mafa Moremoholo: The hardworking Moremoholo was an ever present for Lioli.
The captain’s responsibilities due to the injury to Likuena’s skipper Bokang Mothoana might have come as a big load for the fullback as he was the weak link in some of the Likuena games.
He has failed to assist in attack as he usually does at club level but he always works hard for his club and country.
Itumeleng Falene: One of the new faces in the team after an impressive first season playing at the highest level with Bantu.
The young right back gave a satisfying performance in his only competitive match he played against Tanzania at the COSAFA Cup.
He is surely a player for the future and also has a good work rate. He gives his team options going forward.
Thabiso Mohapi: He saw little game time at Bantu in the previous campaign but always did well when given a chance.
Started the match against Namibia with Mothoana unavailable due to injury but struggled with the pace of the game maybe due to match fitness and never played again in the next four games.
His versatility is another reason that the coach picking him despite lack of game time at club level.
Kefuoe Mahula: Mahula gave the right energy and helped his team to play with confidence in the few games that he played.
Mahula also did not feature a lot for Matlama and played most of the games coming from the bench due to school commitments. But he brings positive changes whenever he is introduced.
Mabuti Potloane: Maliehe also faced a lot of criticism for including the former Vodacom Premier League Player of the Year who did not play much for his club in a season plagued by injuries.
However, Potloane proved his critics wrong when it mattered most changing the game for Likuena when they were losing against Zimbabwe scoring the second goal and winning a penalty that gave the team the third goal though Likuena still went down 3-4.
His experience and versatility has proved useful for the team though at times it works against him. He tried his best as a false number nine in the home game against Comoros.
Jane Thabantšo: He was the star of the Likuena team at the 2016 edition of the COSAFA cup in Namibia as well as the top goal scorer but failed to live up to expectations at this year’s tournament.
He also did not live up to expectations at club level but any coach would be naïve to leave him out of the squad.
Hlompho Kalake: Another of the Likuena players that had so much expected of them but he failed to light-up the national team like he did for Bantu on their way to the 2016/17 league title.
Maybe the coach needs to find the best position for him in the national team to enable him to play to the best of his ability. Fatigue could have been a problem for the player who has been ever-present for Likuena and Bantu for the last two years.
Tumelo Khutlang: He continues to mature with every game and he was Likuena’s best player in almost every game.
Khutlang was also outstanding for Lioli last season and is one of the best players in the country at the moment.
There is room for improvement and he needs to work on his finishing as a player who gives defenders a headache in every game.
Tšoanelo Koetle: He is always among the best players whenever he is in the pitch. The Lioli anchor-man gives 100 percent in every game and makes Likuena tick playing in front of the back four.
Koetle maintains his standards in every match and he should be helped to secure a move to a bigger league to take his game to another level.
Bokang Mothoana: The Likuena skipper got a new lease of life at Kick4life last season and he did very well in the one match he played against Tanzania before injury ruled him out of the regional COSAFA competition.
His experience and leadership was sorely missed in the big games as were his abilities with dead balls.
Napo Matsoso: Another of the new boys in the Likuena team and he impressed in his only game against Tanzania at the COSAFA Cup. He was ineligible to play in the CHAN competition as he plays his football in the USA.
But a good prospect for the future as far as the national team is concerned.
Strikers:
Thapelo Tale: The speedy striker is one of the most experienced players in the Likuena squad having been part of the team since the days of former coaches, Serbian, Zavisa Milosayljevic, Notši and Seephephe Matete.
Tale was not initially part of Maliehe’s squad but his form picked up last season after joining Kick4Life in the second round and he regained his place in the national team.
He scored a beautiful team goal against Tanzania in the AFCON qualifiers in June, but limped out of the match with injury.
Since then, he has struggled to remain fit.
He is one of the players that get criticised most of the time but most coaches pick him because of his high work rate and ability to give defenders a tough time.
Motebang Sera: The Matlama striker was mainly used as an impact player coming from the bench and proved his worth in the team bringing the positive attitude into the game.
He brought Likuena back into the game coming from the bench against Zimbabwe with a well-taken goal but unfortunately errors at the back gave the Warriors more goals to win the match 4-3.
He was been unlucky to sustain an injury that saw him play only a few minutes in the first leg against Comoros and he was ruled out the return match.
He has raised his hand as a contender to take over Tale as the first choice striker for the national team.
