22 Mar 2018

Senior national football team is set to take on their Lesotho counterparts in an international friendly encounter at the National Stadium on Saturday

Although the match will be a friendly with only bragging rights at stake, Major David  Bright’s troops are expected to fight to the end  and secure victory to restore some diminishing pride which has been on a downward spiral in recent times as the Zebras have been finding victories hard to come by.

Under Major Bright, the Zebras’ form has been on a dip having played and lost two games against South Africa in the CHAN tournament and losing to Tanzania on a friendly. Major Bright has only one victory under his belt that came against Ethiopia during the Independence Day celebrations.

Pressure is building on the Zebras to turn the fortunes around despite the team being under a rebuilding process following the end of the golden generation era that took the nation to its maiden African Nations Cup.

With the Zebras stripes slowly fading, itnot fall on the shoulders of Major Bright to do restoration work and the Saturday game could not have come at a better time.

The clash against Likoena is set to help the two nations as they prepare for the 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualification games in September this year.

There is a thin line that separates Zebras and Likoena but the previous head to head results are slightly on the Zebras’ favour having registered a 2-1 victory in their last friendly match in 2016.

Major Bright has named a formidable squad to face Lesotho which consists of the tried and tested campaigners among them Jerome Ramatlhakwana  and Mogakolodi Ngele.

The Zebras boss has included South African-based players such as attacker Ngele, goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe and midfielder, Mpho Kgaswane.

Also in the squad is Thatayaone Kgamanyane.  The Gaborone United marksman is regarded as the hottest property in premier league at the moment with his club coach recently stating that he deserved to play in the European league.

The 22-year-old Kgamanyane, who is the league’s top goalscorer with 15 goals, has been linked with South African clubs Maritzburg United and Chippa United.

Major Bright has however made late call ups to beef up his squad, calling Edwin Moalosi to replace the newly -wed Lemponye Tshireletso who has been excused from the game to go on honey moon.

Kabelo Seakanyeng has also been recalled to camp to replace Tumisang Orebonye who has not been training with the team due to a knee injury.

The full squad
Goalkeepers:
Dambe, Keagile Kgosipula, Bophelo Kealeboga

Defenders:
Simisane Mathumo, Thabang Mosige, Tshepo Maikano, Tebogo Sosome, Alphonso Modisaotsile, Thero Setsile, Lesenya Ramoraka, Tapiwa Gadibolae

Midfielders:
Segolame Boy, Motsholetsi Sikele, Mpho Kgaswane, Kobamelo Kebaikanye, Moshe Gaolaolwe, Thatayaone Kgamanyane, Gift Moyo, Mogakolodi Ngele, Keagile Kobe, Lesego Galenamotlhale

Strikers:
Ramatlhakwana, Tumisang Orebonye, Omaatla Kebatho, Lemponye Tshireletso, Onkabetse Makgantai
 Kick off  is at 16;00 hours. Ends