LESOTHO Football Association (LeFA) has threatened that some Likuena players who were found misbehaving and smoking dagga at camp during the Three Nations Tournament that was held in Maputo, Mozambique, last week will be dismissed.
sports
June 8, 2021
STAFF REPORTER
4 min read
Mischievous Likuena players shown exit door
LeFA secretary general Mokhosi Mohapi
Likuena returned home from Mozambique on Monday morning amid accusations that some of their players were found smoking dagga at camp in Mozambique.
LeFA Secretary General, Mokhosi Mohapi, confirmed these allegations, admitting that the perpetrators will be booted out of the squad.
“The players who will be found guilty of misconduct while on national duty will be dismissed from the national team,” he said.
Mohapi, however, declined to identify the players fingered for misconduct, saying he was yet to file a full report with the technical team.
He attributed the dismal performance of the team to the misconduct of players, saying there could, however still be some other factors which could only be put into perspective after the head coach, Thabo Senong, has submitted the whole report.
He said the entire squad will be released in order for the players to rejoin their respective clubs in preparation for the domestic league.
Mohapi was non-committal on when the players will resume camp in preparation for the regional Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) Cup, which is due next month in Durban, South Africa.
“I am still waiting to see the coach's training programme and will only be in a position to confirm thereafter,” he said.
Likuena arrived back home a diminished team, following two losses - against the host nation Mozambique in a mid-week match played on Wednesday and fellow visitors eSwatini's Isihlangu Semnikati on Saturday.
Likuena opened the three-nation soccer tournament against Mozambique's Mambas and were hammered 5-0 before later going down 2-1 to eSwatini.
Talking in post-match interviews with the media, Likuena head coach Thabo Senong said although he was unhappy with the results, he was however, satisfied with the preparations ahead of the regional Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) Cup, which is scheduled for Durban, South Africa next month.
He said he introduced a youthful side with majority of the players making their debut national call up.
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Likuena head coach Thabo Senong
The squad he said, however, played against tough and much experienced sides which gave them a run for their money.
The Pimville-born coach said his players managed to hold on to the opponents until they succumbed to pressure due to inexperience and lack of international exposure.
He nonetheless promised to work on the mistakes ahead of the COSAFA Cup, adding that they will be better-prepared by July.
Senong was under a lot of pressure going into the tournament after the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) President King’s Counsel Salemane Phafane had warned him to guide Likuena to at least the COSAFA semi-finals or face serious consequences.
Asked to comment on the mandate given to him prior to the Mozambique tournament, Senong said there was nothing special about coaches being given mandates in order to deliver.
He however agreed that all the pressure should be applied on him as the mentor and most certainly not on the players in order to allow them to play freely.
Among other challenges he met prior to the Mozambique tournament was the issue of overseas based players who declined to honour the national call up and instead decided to do service for their respective clubs.
Players likes Lesia Thetsane who is based in the United States of America said he would only join the national team for competitions recognised by the world governing body, FIFA. Metro/LeNA
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