Sport Public Eye
May 25, 2018
Big guns face off at Makoanyane NTHAKO MAJORO
M
ASERU - Top-flight pool clubs face off in the inaugural China Geo Tournament’ semi-finals taking place at Makoanyane Military Barracks today. Semi-finalists, Manhattans, Tšosane Super Stars (TSS), Pasco and Molalana are each looking to be the first winners of the competition after they caused havoc during the 40-team tournament to reach to the finals. The tournament, which was launched in March, was divided into eight groups of five clubs each. Participants are clubs playing in both the first and second divisions drawn from Maseru. The top four that made it into the semifinals are all first division teams. “The semi-finals will take place on Friday (today) immediately after the draw,” said Maseru pool spokesperson, Nazar Surtie in an interview with Public Eye on Monday this week. “Losers will meet each other on Saturday to fight for the third position, while the final match will be held on Sunday,” Surtie also said. To make it to the finals; Manhattans beat Khachi’s, Pasco knocked out Ciscos, TSS defeated the Maseru Second Division champions Marontaboleng, while Molalana conquered Maseru First Division champs, Mabote Masters. “I think we are going to do well. We are not intimidated by any of the three teams,” said Manhattans’ player, Motebang Mokhoromeng. The Manhattans’ senior player said Pasco are the least of their worries because they always fall victim to their walloping. The teams he was concerned about in the tournament are Molalana and TSS which he described as tricky as well as crafty.
“Manhattans always beat Pasco but I cannot say much about Molalana whose performance has improved tremendously recently. “Between us and TSS anything can happen because each team knows how the other plays. It only depends on which side will use its chances to its advantage,” Mokhoromeng said. Last year, TSS knocked Manhattans out of the CBS Pool Cup in the semi-finals. But Mokhoromeng said since that defeat, his charges have gained momentum and their performance has improved noticeably. Pasco president, Matletse Likhoeli, also said none of their opponents pose any serious threat to his team, adding: “We are going to play in the final and no team will stop us.” TSS are the only team that has beaten Pasco twice in the league, both at home and away in the just-ended season. But Likhoeli said the weekend meeting is different as it is cup match which requires a different game plan altogether. “I don’t think they can beat us again this time, especially in a cup match. This will be a different game altogether,” Likhoeli said. The captain of Molalana, Montšo Nape, said all the four teams have chances of winning the tournament though he has more confidence in his charges. “To be honest, all the teams have similar chances of winning but my team has the biggest because they defeated the first division champions, Mabote Masters,” Nape said. “The spirit is very high at Molalana’s camp after the Mabote Masters’ defeat, and we cannot let this chance go unutilised.” China Geo - a construction company sponsored the tournament to the tune of M40 000 and the winners will walk away M7 000 richer.
Public Eye
Friday May 25, 2018 21
Real Madrid vs Liverpool:
Internation Sport Adverts News
Could James Milner be key to Champions League final?
T
he Champions League final will be contested by the highest-scoring teams in this season’s competition, with two of the world’s most potent forwards on display. Real Madrid are chasing a record 13th title - and their third in a row - while Liverpool can move above Bayern Munich and Barcelona into third (behind AC Milan) in the list of most E u ro p e a n C u p/C h a m p i o n s League wins if they are victorious in Kiev. The fixture has all the makings of a classic, but what can we learn from the stats heading into the match? With more than 90 goals between them in all competitions this season, it is hardly surprising the Champions League final has been billed as a battle between Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Both are sure to be in the running for the Ballon d’Or at the end of 2018, but it is a man who is unlikely to receive any individual accolades who could hold the key to success in Kiev. James Milner made headlines in the semi-final against Roma when he took his tally of assists in this season’s competition to eight, equalling the tournament record set by Neymar in 2016-17. That total is three more than Real Madrid’s entire midfield of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Isco, Marco Asensio and Casemiro have managed between them. Milner’s increased productivity in the final third has been the most notable aspect of his Champions League displays - he has gone from an assist every 588 minutes in the Premier League to one every 99 minutes in Europe. But there has been more to his superb European form than just creating goals. The former England midfielder, already a strong performer domestically, has raised his game in the
Liverpool’s James Milner and Mohamed Salah Champions League in almost every statistical category. And, despite Real Madrid’s
proud European record, Milner may never have a better chance to create goals for his team-mates
in a final, since the reigning champions are anything but secure defensively. -bbc
Serena, Sharapova poised for last-16 clash Three-time champion Serena Williams will face Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the French Open first round after the draw was made on Thursday with a potential clash against bitter rival Maria Sharapova in the last 16. Former world No 1 Williams, now ranked a lowly 453, is playing a Grand Slam for the first time since she won her 23rd major at the 2017 Australian Open after which she stepped off the tour to give birth to her daughter in September. Pliskova, the twin sister of world No 6 Karolina, has never
Maria Sharapova with Serena Williams won a main draw match at Roland Garros. Williams has played just four
matches on the tour in 2018 and not featured at all since Miami in March.
Sharapova, champion in 2012 and 2014, could face Serena in the fourth round. The Russian who missed last year’s event after she was refused a wild card as she battled to rebuild her career following a 15-month doping ban, has not defeated Williams since 2004. To p s e e d a n d two - t i m e runner-up Simona Halep faces Alison Riske of the United States in her opener while second seed and Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki starts against another American, Danielle Collins. –AFP
Iniesta signs with Japan’s Vissel Kobe
Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta said he dismissed offers from elsewhere to join Vissel Kobe because they showed they had “trust and confidence” in him. The 34-year-old completed his move to the Japanese topflight side after leaving Barca, where he spent 22 years. “I had a lot of offers, other clubs showed an interest in me,” said the Spain international, who is reported to be on a $30m (£22.39m) annual salary. “I chose Vissel Kobe because it was an interesting project.” He added: “There was also a lot of trust and confidence in me as a person and also as a player - that was a big reason.” Kobe owner Hiroshi Mikitani said Iniesta help the next generation of players. He said: “I am confident Iniesta’s philosophy, leadership and DNA will be a terrific inspiration, not only for Kobe but Japanese football society.” Mikitani added: “We look forward to Iniesta not only strengthening the team’s performance but also contributing to the development of the next generation of players through the introduction of the Iniesta methodology to the youth academy. “We believe his decision to come to Japan will have a major impact, not just on Vissel Kobe, but on football in Japan and Asia.” Iniesta won 32 trophies at Barcelona, where he made 674 senior appearances, having joined the youth set-up aged 12. His last game for the club came in Sunday’s La Liga win over Real Sociedad. The Spain international tweeted he was going to his “new home” on Wednesday and he will now join former Arsenal and Germany forward Lukas Podolski at Kobe. Iniesta will wear the number eight shirt, with his new side sixth in the J-League after 15 games, having finished ninth last season. Mikitani added: “Iniesta will raise the profile of Japanese football globally and we are working on activities to leverage his presence here and promote the J-League worldwide. “I am very proud to see this day come. We will do everything in our power to support Iniesta during his time in Japan and show us all his beautiful, inspiring play.” Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands, has been selected for Spain’s squad for next month’s tournament in Russia.
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Public Eye
Friday May 25, 2018
Sport News From The Terraces NTHAKO MAJORO
No football without the media The 2017/18 season will always be remembered in the annals of our football experience as a period that Lesotho’s football was rocked with incessant scandals which had never been experienced before. No one can forget the landmark case that saw Bantu losing points and goals after a local sports tribunal found them guilty of fielding four unlawfully registered players in a league match against arch rivals Lioli. It is now a confirmed fact that Bantu breached football regulations regarding players’ registration and football, like any other sporting code, cannot function without rules and regulations. That is why we have referees in every football match to make sure that the players adhere to the laws of the game. So it goes without saying that without laws, football would be a pretty dreary sport because everyone would definitely do as they please. Let me not dwell too much on the matter, not so much because I am trying to shy away from it but because it is now becoming humdrum. Notwithstanding that, the just-ended Econet Premier League season was indeed quite attention-grabbing and full of essential bangers. The exciting football that our teams displayed from the beginning until the season came to an end saw our league matches pulling more numerous spectators than before, and that was a sign of getting things better on the field of play. It means some people have done good work, and those are the coaches and the players. Team managers, presidents, public relations officers and other club officials also deserve credit for they have executed their roles well before the season kicked-off until the last games. Without them I doubt our teams would have been able to deliver a good performance. For example, club managers are there to help coaches to get the players they need from outside their clubs, and also to make sure that the players’ welfare is catered for. Sponsors and fans alike are part of this season’s success. These are the most important stakeholders of football without whom the game would just be an entertainment activity and not a serious competition like now. I mean with the money the sponsors stretch to our football and the ones the fans pay to watch premier league matches, the difference is there for everyone to see compared to the past 10 seasons. Some of our top-flight clubs now pay their players, which was never the case. There are also people who do matter for football to be where it is today, and those are sports journalists. Apart from playing a big role of promoting this beautiful game, either directly or indirectly, they also hold football administrators to account for any wrongdoing on their part. Therefore it goes without saying that without media football cannot survive.
Is Team Lesotho redeeming its image? NEO SENOKO
M
ASERU - Team Lesotho delivered a remarkable performance at the Confederation of Schools Sport Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) ball games, held in Botswana earlier this month. Although the country finished fourth out of five nations at the games, it scooped an impressive total of eight medals; four gold, two silver and two bronze medals. The Mountain Kingdom also broke three records at this year’s edition of the competition. ’Maqabang Tsibela set two COSSASA records in both the 1,500m and the 3,000m races. Another notable record was set by Semoko Thebe in the 3,000m category. Other athletes such as Tanki Molefe and Shakhane Mokotla also made an impression in the 1,500m and 200m races winning silver medals while other 1,500m runners Mbhele Qhojeng and Hlompho Letele were also promising, lifting bronze medals in their categories. Lesotho has never won the tournament that is normally dominated by fellow regional neighbours Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana. However, that could be attributed to the number of athletes these countries deploy to the event on yearly basis as well as their preparation efforts. In this year’s edition hosts Botswana claimed pole position followed by Zimbabwe and Namibia. As always Lesotho took only 50 participants - the smallest number of competitors at the event. COSASSA ball games are projected to unearth talent in the southern Africa region in order to prepare young athletes to eventually compete at the world stage in future. Sports authorities in these countries are expected to take over from schools’ associations, monitor the talent, and prepare the young athletes for the future. This year’s performance has been hailed as one of the best for Team Lesotho in years, an indication that both Lesotho Institutions Sports Association (LISA) and Lesotho Primary School Sports Association (LEPSA) are doing a great job in unearthing talent. The situation seems
different, however, when it comes to the local sports authorities who, unlike schools associations, are fully mandated to oversee and run sports on a daily basis. The outstanding performance sparked a heated debate, with sports enthusiasts ex p re ss i n g d o u b t o n l o ca l s p o rts authorities who fail to monitor young talent immediately after completing their primary and high school education. The main debate has been around reasons why Lesotho’s senior athletes fail to perform as well as their younger counterparts who perform quite impressively on the international stage. Sports pundits contend that proper facilities, structures and dedication on the part of authorities, and great development in all sporting codes could be realised in Lesotho. Renowned national athletics coach Chaplin Mpomane has called on the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) to up their game in terms of monitoring local talent until they reach the stage where they are ready to challenge the world’s best. “Schools are playing their role, the problem is at the top; the LNOC as well as government should work hand-inhand with other bodies to build a clear database of these young athletes for easier monitoring because as things stand, it looks like the LNOC wants to do everything on its own, which will never work. Most of the time they fail to spot real talent because they do not want to cooperate,” Mpomane said in an interview with Public Eye on Tuesday this week. The national coach warned: “They should also cooperate with coaches, particularly when identifying athletes who qualify for international scholarships, because these are the people who spend most of the time with players and therefore know a lot about their strengths and weaknesses.” The LNOC is mandated to organise and facilitate for high performance programmes earmarked for elite athletes in collaboration with the national federations and other sports governing institutions in Lesotho. For example, Lesotho’s top sprinter 100m and 200m specialist - Mosito Lehata, and triple jumper Lerato Sechele are just
some of the local athletes who benefited through such programmes. Mpomane is also of the view that LNOC should not just take athletes to any country when dealing with the scholarship programmes but, instead, they have to choose specific countries where real athletic development would be attained. “For example, countries like South Africa take their athletes, especially sprinters, to Jamaica and that is because that country has an outstanding development programme for sprinters. So there is no doubt that athletes who train in Jamaica will get the best out of the programme,” he says. While the Lesotho Institutions Sports Association (LISA) president Caswel Moru expresses satisfaction over the performance of the young athletes at the COSSASA games, he also admits that sports authorities should work hand in hand to nurture talent to the highest level. “I think the major problem is follow-up on the talent that we have in the country. Another problem is that at that young age we only rely on raw talent and coaching skills to produce competitive athletes while in fact the issue of sports science is also very important as they get older,” Moru says, adding that even life responsibilities have a major effect on athletes’ performance. Lesotho Amateur Athletics Association (LAAA) public relations officer Sejanamane Maphathe reiterates that the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) should also meet the LNOC halfway in preparation of athletes while also joining forces with other responsible bodies. “The LSRC should also play a role to make things easier for the Olympic committee. Normally we only show interest in athletes during international games but neglect them throughout the rest of the time. “What should happen is we should remain focused and dedicated at all time to developing the best athletes in Lesotho,” Maphathe says. He says in most cases the only athletes that normally benefit are those that are registered under athletics clubs in their respective areas while those that are not registered struggle to gain exposure irrespective of how talented they might be.
Public Eye
Friday May 25, 2018 23
Sport News
A more aggressive Likuena expected
FILE pic: Jane Thaba-ntšo, left, and Mabuti Potloane, far right in a march against Malawi
NTHAKO MAJORO
M
ASERU – Some football p u n d i ts h ave l i tt l e regard for the senior national team that is preparing for the upcoming COSAFA Cup, while others anticipate a more aggressive type of play from the Moses Maliehe’s charges. The 2018 men’s senior Cosafa tournament kicks-off this Sunday in South Africa, with Likuena taking on Swaziland in the quarter finals on June 2. Maliehe has named a team with a mix of energy and athleticism but the squad’s midfield is nonetheless crowded with attackers and ball players. The midfielders comprise H l o m p h o K a l a ke , M a b u t i Po t l oa n e, Ke f u o e Ma h u l a , Mo s i u oa B o s e ka , L e ba j oa Mosehlenyane, Tumelo Khutlang, Litšepe Marabe, Jane Thabantso, Luciano Matsoso and Lehlohonolo Fothoane. Coach Maliehe clearly anticipates that his charges will possess the ball more than their opponents, hence the kind of midfielders he opted for in the tournament. Mahula is the only player, among these 10 midfielders, who can play as a holding midfielder in the absence of Tšoanelo Koetle and Thabiso Mohapi, among others. But Mahula might not necessarily be appropriate for
that role in a tournament of this magnitude, given his short stature and limited experience that is, if things do not go according to plan and force the coach to alter his game plan. Apart from Mahula, another player who at the end of the day could be switched to a holding midfielder is Kopano Tseka, who is the team’s key defender. “It is clear that Mahula will play as a holding midfielder,” said former LCS, Lioli and Bantu coach, Katiso Mojakhomo. “He could also use Kopano Tseka as he has played before as a holding midfielder during his stint with the Under-20 squad, Makoanyane XI.” Mojakhomo says Tseka also played a holding midfielder role for a long time before with his current team Lioli though he currently plays as a defender. This, he adds, would be possible as Maliehe normally plays two holding midfielders. Mojakhomo does not expect much pressure on the midfield because Maliehe normally uses five players in the midfield. Another advantage about this particular squad is that Maliehe has coached most of these players from the Under 20 side. “The fact that he mentored most of these players before, is another advantage for him, and I think this is going to work wonders for him in the tournament,” Mojakhomo says.
Commenting on the conf iguration of Maliehe’s midfield, Mojakhomo says it is obvious that Likuena will play possession football which would make Likuena the trickiest side in the tournament. “It is obvious with the squad he has selected that Likuena are going to play possession football, and if that will be the case we are likely to be the toughest team to play in the tournament,” he says. He applauds Maliehe for his selection of goalkeepers, namely; Likano Mphuthi, Sam Ketsekile and Monaheng Ramalefane, describing it as a good mix of young and veteran talented goalminders. “His selection of goalkeepers is fairly good. Mphuti is doing well at his team (LDF), as well as Ramalefane (at Matlama) and Ketsekile (LCS). “Ketsekile is likely to retire in two years’ time (when he turns 39), while 19-year-old Ramalefane has about 15 years on his side,” says Mojakhomo adding Mphuti, 30, also still has time on his side. “Ramalefane has no pressure at all even if he could be the number one goalkeeper for Lesotho at the tournament. The boy is fine, he is a good cover,” he says. This is Ramalefane’s first callup to Likuena, after he impressed at last year’s Under-20 Cosafa Championship in Zambia, where he won the Goalkeeper of the
Tournament Award. This was after his saves saw Makoanyane XI, reach the finals where they lost 2-1 to South Africa’s Amajita. He conceded a single goal in group stage (Group C). Lesotho won the Fair Play Award at the tournament. Former Sandawana FC coach, Sidwel Mothea also commended Maliehe’s choice of the squad which he described as the best team ever. “They are a team with a lot of young players and that to me is very good,” Mothea says. Mothea further states that given the average age of the squad, it is evident that Maliehe is building an AFCON team. He says it is exciting to see the great number of attacking players in the team. “Having so many attacking players is a good plan but my only worry is whether we will be able to regroup after we lose the ball,” Mothea wonders. That point, he says, must be a major concern to Maliehe, given that his left and right back, Bokang Sello and Mafa Moremoholo respectively are used to an overlapping playing method, which may be a big problem every time Likuena lose ball possession. Fo r m e r L i k u e n a c oa c h , Monaheng Monyane says the squad is useable and can turn tables against any opponents. “I saw Luciano (Matsoso)
before, playing for Likuena. I think he qualifies to be in the squad,” Monyane says. He adds: “Even though I am not sure about his performance, where he is playing, but he made a good impression before with Likuena.” Matsoso, 23, plays for MSK Oskar Przysucha in Poland. Another player that Monyane is confident in his service is Mabuti Potloane. The Matlama ace midfielder is one of the most experienced players in the squad. “Mabuti is a very useful player who easily influences other players,” Monyane says. Howeve r, Mo nya n e says Maliehe will have to be very careful how to use the Matlama star. But he says in spite of how good Potloane is, his biggest weakness is his poor defence. “You cannot expect him to use his energy to mark, and that means you cannot rely on him all the time. But he is very important to have in the team,” he says. Motebang Sera, one of the three strikers Maliehe has called up, is another player to watch at the tournament. M o n ya n e s a y s f o r t h e 23-year-old Matlama striker to perform well, he would need an interpersonal relationship with Maliehe. “Sera is a kind of player who needs an interpersonal relationship with his coach for him to shine. He needs more attention,” Monyane notes. Commenting on the team’s defenders, he describes them as impressive individuals, though he says that is not good enough. He says the defenders’ major challenge is whether they will be able to blend well as a unit at the back. “If only we could have a number of friendly games before the tournament so that they could understand each other’s playing style. “But I sense some reluctance o n t h e pa r t o f e i t h e r t h e government or the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) to invite other teams from outside for the friendlies,” Monyane says. Likuena squad Goalkeepers: Likano Mphuthi, Sam Ketsekile, Monaheng Ramalefane Defenders: Nkau Lerotholi, Basia Makepe, Bokang Sello, Mafa Moremoholo and Kopano Tseka. Midf ielders: Hlompho Kalake, Mabuti Potloane, Kefuoe Mahula, Mosiuoa Boseka, Lebajoa Mosehlenyane, Tumelo Khutlang, Litšepe Marabe, Jane Thaba-ntso, Luciano Matsoso and Lehlohonolo Fothoane. Strikers: Motebang Sera, Nkoto Masoabi and Tšoarelo Bereng.