Lesotho to bring new faces for COSAFA

Tsotleho Paul Jane of Lesotho challenged by Mwinyi Kazimoto of Tanzania

Monday May 09, 2016. 11:11

Lesotho national team coach Moses Maliehe has announced that he will be introducing a new team at the upcoming 2016 Cosafa Castle Cup tournament.

'Likoena' are in Group B together with Angola, Malawi and Mauritius which is not an easy group, but the new coach remains upbeat of doing well.

Maliehe, who took over the reins from Seephephe Matete late last year, believes his team can put on a show and surprise some of the bigger names at the regional tournament.

“We know it won’t be easy for us in Namibia and we have a completely new team,” Maliehe said.

“But football is football and we have a lot of talented young players are looking to make a name for themselves.

“The COSAFA Castle Cup gives them the platform to do that and we are excited to see what we can achieve.

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“We have a lot of experience in junior football and now is the time to make the step up to the senior team.

“They are very keen to play and we cannot deny them that chance.”

Speaking of his team, Maliehe revealed that the majority of his side is made up of the squad that competed for Lesotho at the 2011 African Youth Championships.

“Most of them come from that 2011 side that went to the African Youth Championships, but then we have also brought in some newer Under-20 players from the team I was coaching previously. It is a good mix,” adds the coach.

“In the senior national team there is no time for development, it is about competition and winning. I don’t want to talk about using this tournament to develop our players, were are there to compete, play well and win matches.”

The tournament is set to be staged from June 11-25 in Namibia. The Brave Warriors are the current holders, having won in South Africa last year.