By: Lebohang Maluke
MASERU – Lesotho’s Under-17 National Team, Makoanyane XI, is set to square off against Mozambique in a highly anticipated friendly match, marking their final test before the highly coveted Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) tournament.
With a keen eye on the COSAFA championship, the Makoanyane XI will be eager to display their prowess on the pitch and prove their mettle against the formidable opposition of Mozambique.
As they prepare for the COSAFA championship, the stakes are high so pressure mounts. With the upcoming friendly match against Mozambique serving as a litmus test for their readiness, the team is bracing itself for a fiercely contested battle on the pitch, a boasting of skills and strategies that will exert limits and unleash their potential.
Mozambique, a formidable opponent with a reputation for ruthless efficiency on the field, represents the ultimate challenge for the Lesotho squad, one that will require every ounce of their passion, determination, and talent to overcome.
Today marks final training session ahead of their journey to Mozambique, where they will play at the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations/ COSAFA Qualifiers.
As they count down to the qualifiers, the team will fine-tune their skills and game plan before embarking on the quest to conquer the continent, representing Lesotho on the global stage of African football.
This is a critical moment in the individual career timelines that form team Makoanyane XI. With their skills honed to razor-sharp precision over countless hours of practice and training, they stand poised to effectively apply their talents on the international stage.
The team members carry with them the hopes and dreams of their country’s victory, eager to position themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the world of African football.
With Coach Halemakale Mahlaha leading the charge, the Makoanyane XI are poised to start with a face-off against Comoros, followed by a duel against South Africa, with the closing match against Malawi.
The history of Lesotho’s soccer records are rich with the exploits of the Makoanyane XI, the nation’s youthful footballing titans. Twice they have scaled the heights of the continental stage, achieving feats of glory that have etched their names indelibly in the accounts of Lesotho’s football lore.
In 2005, through the leaderships of the late Coach Seepheephe Matete and Lehlohonolo Thotanyana, the team secured grandeur that secured their participatory qualification for the continent’s premier youth competition.
Coach Mahlaha, his gaze fixed with the intensity of a man who knows the stakes, watches his players with the pride of a father and the scrutiny of a coach, seeking to strengthen their ability before the battle begins.