Leemisa Thuseho
LIQHOMANE and Maseru Warriors will this Saturday face-off in the 2021 Econet National Rugby League final at Mabote Ground.
Liqhomane advanced to the final following their 20-18 victory over Roma Kings in the semi-final last weekend. On the other hand, the defending champions, Warriors, beat Mabote Beavers 10-8 to book their spot in the final.
Apart from the final, Mabote Beavers and Roma Kings will tussle for the third place.
The winner will pocket M10 000.
Warriors coach, Morapeli Motaung, said he was expecting a tough encounter as Liqhomane have been outstanding, winning all their games this season.
“We are preparing for the encounter but it is not going to be an easy game,” Motaung said this week.
“Despite winning our semi-final game, we struggled because we were missing some of our key players due to work commitments. I am therefore, praying that all the players will be available come Saturday.”
This has been a difficult campaign given the loss of some of his key players at the beginning of the season, he said.
“It was a particularly difficult season having lost two scrummers; Bokang Mofuntisi and Matebele Khalema because of injuries. Another player, Retšelisitsoe Thantši, only played two games had to relocate to Butha-Buthe for work.
“Two more, Motlatsi Moabi and Thabo Makutla, have been unavailable throughout because of work commitments. But I am happy because we still reached the final.
“I have been relying on young, inexperienced players but I now trust them. They have done very well and winning the league will be a bonus.”
On the other hand, Liqhomane will be out in full force to reclaim the title it lost to Warriors in 2019 and coach, Mokoena Mokoena, is also anticipating a tough match.
“It is going to be a fight. I have been watching Warriors’ recent matches and I can tell that they have a good team. We didn’t perform well last Saturday, so we are back to the drawing board,” Mokoena said.
To his advantage, all of Mokoena’s players are available for selection on Saturday.
