Mikia Kalati
EXPERIENCED Lioli goalkeeper Liteboho Mokhehle has returned to action after a long injury enforced absence.
Lioli coach Lehlohonolo Thotanyana confirmed to the Lesotho Times this week that Mokhehle was back in action after over a year.
Tse Nala endured a goalkeeping crisis since Mokhehle suffered an injury in 2017 while Mohau Kuenane also had a bumpy relationship with the club before parting ways.
However, the arrival of Jersey Matsie at the start of the season from Kick4Life seemed to have brought stability as he has played a key role at when Tse Nala lifted the Independence Cup in October this year.
Matsie has also made the Makoanyane XI squad that will this week leave the country for the Under-20 COSAFA Cup to be staged in Kitwe Zambia from the 2nd to the 14th of next month.
“The wealth of experience that Mokhehle boasts of is a big boost for the club,” Thotanyana said.
“He will definitely make a huge difference in the team. He has recuperated and is now fit.
“He has started training with the rest of the players and we are happy to have him back.”
Tse Nala are unlikely to be in action in the Econet Premier League in the next three weeks as they have three players in the Makoanyane squad that will be at the COSAFA Cup and Thotanyana feels it’s a good chance to play friendlies and help Mokhehle get up to speed.
“What’s left is for him to get match fitness because he has been training for some time. In the time that we will not be playing in the league, we intend to play friendlies even in South Africa. We have requested our officials to apply for a postponement of our matches due to the involvement of three of our players in the under-20 national team’s COSAFA campaign,” the Lioli mentor said.
Lioli are also likely to have Tšoanelo Koetle back in action in the January transfer window after he was barred from playing having refused to undergo a doping test.
Thotanyana admitted that they have missed their talented anchorman.
“Nothing official has been communicated so far but what I have heard is that the player must undergo some processes for him to be available in January.
“Yes, we have missed him a lot and if he is available to play in January, it will be a big boost for the club.
“Maybe by the start of the second round we will be commanding a respectable position on the league table and I’m confident that will help us compete better.
“I think having Koetle and Mokhehle back will make a big impact within our team without any doubt,” Thotanyana said.
