The Interview: Leslie Notši

For those who didn’t know Lesotho will be one of eight countries at the 2011 Caf African Youth Championship. The under-20 championships were due to roar into life on March 18 in Libya but have been postponed because of the chaos in the North African country.

Nonetheless the excitement around Lesotho is still palpable.

The African Youth Championship is big news.

The showpiece was last won by Ghana in 2009. The Black Satellites memorably went on to become Africa’s first winners of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup later in the year. Then young stars such as Kwadwo Asamoah, Anthony Annan and Dede Ayew would go on to shine for that Ghana team at the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa… enough said.

As things stand Lesotho will come up against Libya, Egypt and Mali in Group A while Group B comprises of Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Gambia.

The top two sides in each group will automatically qualify for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Colombia and get the chance to rub shoulders with some of world football’s rising superstars such as Brazil’s Neymar. The Under-20 World Cup has also been a playground for the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi just to name but a few.

But first Lesotho’s new Golden Generation has to negotiate their group.

Here’s an interview conducted with the under-20 team’s mentor Leslie Notši (pictured).

The man who has guided the Makoanyane XI speaks about his team’s prospects, tactics and Manchester United?...

This interview was done before Libya was stripped of its host status by Caf last week. Caf was due to decide a new host and dates this week.

What’s the target for the Makoanyane XI at the Caf African Youth Championship?

One, we should not pressure ourselves and we should not pressure the boys. But at the same time we should not underestimate ourselves. Our track record speaks volumes, we have beaten some top teams over the past year and I still believe in this tournament we can do more.

Our target is to get three points from the first against Egypt; that is our target. The rest will follow from there.

There is also of course the huge incentive that the top two teams in each group will automatically qualify for the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Colombia in July and August…

It is also a big target. There is no better time than now we have to take the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup, but we need to focus on our group campaign and each game we will play.

Libya also represents a chance for your players to attract scouts…

Definitely, and I support them. But the most important thing from our point of view is that the players should remember that they are ambassadors for the country and they have to stand up and put the country on the football map. It’s only then that their personal recognition will follow.

What was your reaction to the draw? What do you know about your opponents in your group?

Any team should come, that is what I said. They say you can run but you can’t hide. We should not forget that we are a developing team and they need to get tough tests in order to improve. Egypt is one of the top teams in Africa – this is the best competition we could get.

Libya is the hosts. It’s going to be very difficult. But at the same time I still believe that playing them as the underdogs will benefit us. We have done well playing away from home.

Mali, that’s the tough one to me. I have tried to follow their football. They have a good youth system. That’s the match that I think will be the toughest especially because they are a very strong, physical side.

As a coach what type of player do you look for? And how do they fit into your game-plan?

The players should be physically fit; they should adhere to the game-plan. Our aim as much as possible is not to play the ball in our own half; we should strive to play the game in their half where we can create chances and create pressure whether we have the ball or not.

Also, we need to play as a unit when we are not in possession of the ball. Our defence hasn’t conceded goals, that is our plan even if we don’t score at least we shouldn’t concede.

You can see a good team when they are not in possession of the ball, how quickly and how hard they work to win the ball back. You see how quick they can move from defence to attack and also how they master the transition from attack to defence.

That transition is our most important part of our game and it needs very fit players and players that are tactically aware.

Even with its successes, the Makoanyane XI has been criticised as being boring by some. What do you say to that?

Its fine, everybody is allowed to have the opinion and their own philosophies on the game. But if you look at football it has changed, it’s about speed, it’s about physical preparedness and tactical awareness.

If you look at the best teams right now they are playing the football we are trying to play. Look at Barcelona, we all know how good their passing football is, but look at them when they don’t have the ball. Look at Man United, look at Real Madrid.

I am not saying we are like Man United, but we have achieved a lot using our philosophy the time for crowd pleasing has past.

But I appreciate the comments. You have to check yourself all time and see what you can do better, that’s the only way to improve - that’s what I always say to the players.

Another noticeable aspect of your team has been the discipline and the team bond…

As the technical team we have realised that a team can have good players but if it is not disciplined then it will not succeed. The players have to be a disciplined unit, on and off the field. It’s a big part of my philosophy. As much as they are all talented as individuals we have made them aware that motho ke motho ka batho (no man is an island).  They need to work as one to achieve.

Where do you want to see these players and this team in five years time?

As a competitive senior national team.

Do you believe this is possible?

Yes. The boys are doing well; I hear comments from their coaches at club level that they have influenced other players at their clubs. I would like to see the association. If we can be committed to our long term plan then we will achieve.

People should learn that the level of the league determines the strength of the national team. When things are normal a national coach only has three days with the national team. All the work and habits come from league football. Here it is the other way round, the players are expected to improve and be taught. All we should be doing is fine-tuning tactics and not teaching basics of the game.

Does the success of the Makoanyane XI show that there is no need for foreign coaches to coach our national teams?

I was asked the same question by Fifa. I look at it differently. I still believe we need foreign assistance, but the assistance should come in an advisory level. Their youth systems are well developed and they have the know-how. When we make them coaches they don’t know the culture, they struggle and we start pointing fingers. But with their advice we can go far.

Does the success of the Makoanyane XI also mean you are a candidate for the national team job when it becomes available?

I don’t want to comment on that.