Mohloai Mpesi
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| Bantu put in a top class display away to Botswana champions Township Rollers on Tuesday... |
Bantu coach James
Madidilane says the Lesotho champions need to adopt a winning mindset to every
game.
Speaking on
Thursday, Madidilane side his side went into Tuesday’s CAF Champions League preliminary
round first leg away to Township Rollers in the right frame of mind.
The result was a
well-earned 1-1 draw at the Lobatse Sports Complex which gives A Matšo Matebele a vital away goal to
take into the second leg to be played next Tuesday at Setsoto Stadium.
Kickoff for the
decider will be at 18:00 and the winner will proceed to face AS Vita of the Democratic
Republic of Congo for a place in the lucrative Champions League group stage.
Bantu will start
in a good position at Setsoto thanks to Litšepe Marabe’s goal in Botswana.
“Even though we
were aiming for victory (in the first leg) we are proud that we managed to get a
draw in an away game. Getting a draw and a goal is still good for us because we
have nothing to lose,” Madidilane said.
Madidilane praised
his players’ mindset for the tie in Lobatse. He added that he has “full trust”
in his charges when they are focused on the game, perhaps alluding to Bantu’s
inconsistent start in the Econet Premier League where the champions are fourth
are after eight games.
“I’ve got
players who are determined to do the work when they are focused, but whenever
they get into the field with their heads down it’s not easy to win any game. (When
it comes to winning) it is more in their mindset than any physical job,” the
former South Africa and Bloemfontein Celtic defender said.
“It’s a problem
that I am still working on – to prepare them mentally so that they always get
into the field with their heads up and morale flying.”
“We get good
results when more of them are playing as a team,” Madidilane added.
“I always tell
them to corporate because I work on the team unity principle and that’s what I
told them when we went in this encounter (against Township Rollers); there
wasn’t much to tell them because I know them well.”
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| Bantu fans invaded Lobatse and they returned home happy... |
Bantu’s focus is
now on Tuesday’s all-important second leg and Madidilane said he learned Township
Rollers’ strengths which largely lie on crosses into the box. He said to tame
the Botswana champs will take more than a one-man effort.
“They are good
in areas; they have good players with dangerous crosses. What we have to do is
cut the supply of their crosses and put more pressure on them,” Madidilane
said.
Bantu have put
themselves in a position to make history. A win on Tuesday would make A Matšo Matebele the first Lesotho team
to make it past the preliminary stage of Africa’s premier club competition
since LDF in 2002.
In order to
achieve that goal, Madidilane said it is important for Bantu not to put any
added pressure on themselves and only concentrate on the game.
“The pressure is
there as we are playing at our home ground (but) we don’t have to put ourselves
under pressure,” Madidilane said.
“We have to
prepare ourselves in a good way and focus. We need the players to concentrate
on the game. In football if you don’t defend well you’ll lose. We have to
prepare our defensive department as well as the attacking force. We have to
plan very well for this encounter.”
Bantu are not in
Econet Premier League action this weekend in order to do just that.
Madidilane said Bantu
are looking to play practice games to sharpen their skills.
“We are hoping
to have a friendly match on Saturday, we might opt for international teams also
if the match will be at Setsoto since we cannot travel outside as we do not
have time,” he said.
Setsoto is
expected to be rocking when Bantu host Township Rollers next Tuesday and
Madidilane thanked the support his side has received.
“I do not want
to thank Bantu supporters only but also Basotho at large; we represent the
nation and we have to make them happy,” Madidilane said.
“We are going in
this encounter aiming for a win to make them proud; we always go into every
game thinking about them. Come Tuesday it will be the same.”
