Mehalalitoe’s Heart-warming Outreach Earlier than COSAFA Championship Departure
MASERU – The Lesotho nationwide ladies’s staff, Mehalalitoe, will embark on a brand new chapter beneath coach Shalane Lehohla once they contest the 2024 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha, South Africa, this week.
Lehohla has overhauled the squad with 10 new faces referred to as up and Mehalalitoe are decided to show a recent web page and produce a robust efficiency on the regional showpiece, which began on Tuesday and climaxes subsequent Saturday.
The event shall be Lesotho’s first for the reason that demise of former coach Pule Khojane in January.
Khojane had been on the helm of Mehalalitoe for 2 years and performed a pivotal position within the staff’s improvement. His demise as a consequence of sickness was an enormous blow and left the staff in a state of transition.
Lehohla has stepped in to guide the staff and is hoping to construct on the inspiration that Khojane constructed whereas implementing his personal imaginative and prescient for fulfillment.
His method shall be examined instantly with Lesotho up in opposition to Zimbabwe and Mozambique in Group D and just one aspect assured progress to the semi-final.
Lehohla stated he believes within the skills of his new-look squad and is assured they will struggle for constructive outcomes.
Mehalalitoe defender, Thato Mapepesa, echoed Lehohla’s confidence and highlighted the staff’s readiness for the competitors.
Speaking to journalists on the eve of the event, Mapepesa emphasised that Mehalalitoe realized precious classes from their current pleasant matches, which helped them determine their strengths and weaknesses.
“We are not going to limit ourselves, we have set our priorities,” stated Mapepesa. “(The friendly matches) helped a lot in terms of exposure. We learned a lot about our weaknesses and strengths. When we get to the COSAFA (Women’s Championship) we are going to apply what we learnt from the friendly matches.”
Lehohla’s modifications to Mehalalitoe embody omitting Mpolokeng Mothomotšoana, Molemo Mokhothu and Mosele Pita however the staff has been boosted by the arrival of Royal AM duo, Mosili Motšoeneng and Litšeoane Maloro.
The pair carry a wealth of precious expertise and energy from enjoying in South Africa’s top-flight semi-professional league.
Mapepesa believes Motšoeneng and Maloro’s addition has bolstered the squad and Mehalalitoe are able to put their newfound data to the check within the COSAFA Women’s Championship.
Mapepesa additionally famous the emotional affect of Khojane’s demise on the staff, particularly for youthful gamers like herself who appeared as much as him.
She stated the staff is motivated to do nicely in Khojane’s reminiscence as he would have needed them to succeed.
For his half, coach Lehohla acknowledged that the event shall be a tricky check however he remained centered on the final word purpose of successful.
He emphasised that whereas the staff has had time to organize, they needed to steadiness their coaching between bodily and psychological readiness.
Lehohla burdened that there is no such thing as a have to put himself beneath strain as a result of that may switch onto the gamers. Lehohla is hoping his gamers can undertake a extra skilled mind-set and method the sport with a successful mentality.
“It looks like we had a long time but given where they were when we started, we were forced to mix,” Lehohla stated.
“When we were working on the body we were also working work on the mentality. When we were working on mentality, we were also playing football. So there was no specific area we focused on,” Lehohla stated.
Mehalalitoe is about to face powerful competitors in Group D, together with a rematch in opposition to Zimbabwe, who beat them 1-0 in final yr’s event.
Mehalalitoe, nonetheless, are optimistic and centered on making an affect.
For many within the squad, this is a chance to honour their former coach’s legacy by bringing house victory.
Mehalalitoe squad:
Goalkeepers
Thuto Maifo, ‘Mamakhabane Makibinyane, Reitumetse Tuoane
Defenders
Moseme Khashane, Ntaoleng Theletsi, Thato Mapepesa, Itumeleng ‘Molotsi, Mosili Motšoeneng, Nteboheleng Ramotsoku, Bokang Ntsane, Ntsatsi Khakanyo, Tebello Lekote
Midfielders
Boitumelo Rabale, Lerato Tsoinyane, Tsoanelo Leboka, Matšeliso Ntšasa, Nthabeleng Potsane, Nthabeleng Makhabane, ‘Maseriti Mohlolo, Moleboheng Moloi
Strikers
Reitumetse Namane, Phuzile Molefe, Litšeoane Maloro
Tlalane Phahla
