Seabata Mahao
The national senior women’s team, Mehalitoe will today open their Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Women’s Championship campaign against Zimbabwe in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mehalalitoe is drawn in pool C of the competition which runs from October 4 to 15 this year, alongside Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana.
The squad will then face Botswana on October 9 at the Dobsenville Stadium before playing their last group-stage match against Namibia on October 11 at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) Stadium.
The team left for the tournament on Tuesday following a two-week training camp in Maseru. Mehalalitoe coach, Pule Khojane has expressed confidence that their training was thorough, and they were raring to go.
Mehalitoe captain, Ntsatsi Khakanyo hopes the team will bring home good results as they have put in a lot of work during their training sessions.
“Our coaches have done their best to prepare us, so it is now up to us to work on the field. We are motivated that this year we are going in full force with the experience we have from past competitions,†Khakanyo added.
Mehalitoe will be boosted by the availability of star midfielder Boitumelo Rabale, who plays for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in South Africa, and the duo of the defender Mosili Motšoeneng and striker Litšeoane Maloro from Royal AM also from South Africa.
The squad composition is dominated by 12 players from the local Women’s Super League 2023 champions, Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Ladies, while Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) Ladies and Kick4Life Women each have three players, with FC Stoko and Berea Ladies having one player each.
Mehalalitoe has not passed the group stage of the competition since its inception in 2002, and has previously suffered heavy scores in the tournament.
Mehalalitoe’s full squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: ‘Mamakhabane Makibinyan, Mpolokeng MothomotÅ¡oana (both from LDF Ladies) and Thuto Maifo from LMPS Ladies.
Defenders; Captain Ntsatsi Khakanyo (LDF Ladies), Mosili Motšoeneng (Royal AM), Limakatso Matibi, Mathebe Ramphielo (both from LMPS Ladies), Bokang Ntsane, Tšoanelo Leboka, Thato Mapepesa and Lerato Mphou all from LDF Ladies.
Midfielders: Molemo Mokhothu, ‘MatÅ¡ukulu Motloheloa (both from Kick4life Women), Boitumelo Rabale (Sundowns Ladies), ‘Maseriti Mohlolo, Mosele Pita (both from LDF Ladies), Bohlokoa Mothala (FC Stoko), Nthabeleng Makhabane and Nthabeleng Potsane both from LDF Ladies.
Strikers: LitÅ¡eoane Maloro (Royal AM), Phuzile Molefe (LDF Ladies), Nteboheleng Mohoshela (Kick4life Women) and ‘Makhotso Moalosi from Berea Ladies.
