MASERU — Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) will need nothing short of a miracle if they are to overturn the three-nil mauling they suffered at the hands of Uganda Revenue Authority in an African Champions League tie two weeks ago.
The make-or-break tie will be at Setsoto Stadium on Sunday.
The local champions, popularly known as Masheshena, go into this encounter a wounded side after suffering a morale-sapping 1 — 0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Likhopo in a Vodacom Premier League tie on Sunday.
LCS coach Mosholi “Shoes” Mokhothu was not kind to his players when he spoke to the Lesotho Times this week.
Mokhothu said the problem was that his players were too confident and were being punished for that.
“What happened here today (Sunday) is exactly what happened in Uganda. Our intentions are not good when approaching the game.
“Our players won both games against Likhopo and Uganda in their minds before we even started,” an angry Mokhothu said.
He said it was unprofessional for his players to underestimate their opponents.
Mokhothu said he had worked on psyching up the mental attitude of his players during training as they prepare for the Sunday tie.
“We now must go back to the drawing board and do mental preparations ahead of Sunday’s clash which is very important,” Mokhothu said.
He said the players also lacked consistency during games, something they must work hard on as well.
“Lastly, our players must be technically and tactically aware that we have a big and important game ahead of us and must be prepared both mentally and physically,” Mokhothu said.
LCS go into Sunday’s match with an embarrassing record in the Champions league after their first attempt in 2008.
The locals were outclassed by South Africa’s Platinum Stars 4 — 1 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, Under 20 national team coach Bishop Molatoli, the Likhopo owner, has urged LCS to return to its “style of play if they want to win Sunday’s game”.
Molatoli said this immediately after Likhopo beat LCS in a premier league tie last Sunday.
“LCS is not playing well at all and I would advise them to go back to their own style of play if they are to win Sunday’s clash,” Molatoli said.
“They are playing a counter attacking style instead of their usual ball possession and that gives opponents an opportunity to defend and counter-attack at the same time,” he said.
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