New period for Mehalalitoe – The Post
MASERU – The Lesotho nationwide girls’s crew, Mehalalitoe, will embark on a brand new chapter underneath 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 known as up and Mehalalitoe are decided to show a recent web page and produce a powerful efficiency on the regional showpiece, which began on Tuesday and climaxes subsequent Saturday.
The match shall be Lesotho’s first for the reason that loss of life of former coach Pule Khojane in January.
Khojane had been on the helm of Mehalalitoe for 2 years and performed a pivotal function within the crew’s improvement. His loss of life attributable to sickness was an enormous blow and left the crew in a state of transition.
Lehohla has stepped in to steer the crew 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 towards Zimbabwe and Mozambique in Group D and just one facet assured progress to the semi-final.
Lehohla mentioned he believes within the talents of his new-look squad and is assured they’ll struggle for constructive outcomes.
Mehalalitoe defender, Thato Mapepesa, echoed Lehohla’s confidence and highlighted the crew’s readiness for the competitors.
Speaking to journalists on the eve of the match, Mapepesa emphasised that Mehalalitoe discovered precious classes from their latest pleasant matches, which helped them establish their strengths and weaknesses.
“We are not going to limit ourselves, we have set our priorities,” mentioned 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 adjustments to Mehalalitoe embody omitting Mpolokeng Mothomotšoana, Molemo Mokhothu and Mosele Pita however the crew has been boosted by the arrival of Royal AM duo, Mosili Motšoeneng and Litšeoane Maloro.
The pair convey a wealth of precious expertise and power from taking part in 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 information to the take a look at within the COSAFA Women’s Championship.
Mapepesa additionally famous the emotional impression of Khojane’s loss of life on the crew, particularly for youthful gamers like herself who regarded as much as him.
She mentioned the crew is motivated to do properly in Khojane’s reminiscence as he would have needed them to succeed.
For his half, coach Lehohla acknowledged that the match shall be a troublesome take a look at however he remained centered on the final word aim of successful.
He emphasised that whereas the crew has had time to arrange, they needed to steadiness their coaching between bodily and psychological readiness.
Lehohla careworn that there isn’t a have to put himself underneath 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 mentioned.
“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 mentioned.
Mehalalitoe is about to face robust competitors in Group D, together with a rematch towards Zimbabwe, who beat them 1-0 in final 12 months’s match.
Mehalalitoe, nonetheless, are optimistic and centered on making an impression.
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
