Lijabatho, a Morija-based football club from Lesotho, has concluded their CAF Champions League campaign. The team was eliminated after being held to a 1-1 draw by Madagascar's CFFA at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto, South Africa. This result followed a 2-0 defeat to CFFA in the first leg of the preliminary round in Mauritius on 5 August, resulting in a 3-1 aggregate loss.
Head coach Kabelo Malapane believes that their continental campaign has provided valuable lessons and experience for both the players and technical team. Malapane stated that the team's ability to dominate proceedings in both legs was encouraging. However, their failure to create and convert clear-cut chances ultimately cost them. He identified nervousness, particularly in the away match, as one of the team's major shortcomings.
Malapane emphasized that the intensity of the CAF Champions League demands more than simply dominating domestic football. He noted that Lesotho players need greater confidence and ambition to compete successfully at continental level. According to Malapane, Lesotho players are good but there is still more that needs to be done to improve their confidence and make them be ambitious and dream big.
The coach also stressed the importance of regular participation in continental football for Lesotho clubs to become more competitive. He cited established continental sides such as Simba of Tanzania, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, Espérance of Tunisia, and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa as examples of clubs that have benefited from regular participation in the competition.
Malapane, who made his debut in Africa's premier club competition, believes that thorough preparations ahead of continental assignments are crucial. He suggested that regular friendly matches against South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) opposition could help Lesotho clubs raise their competitive levels. This would enable them to gain more experience and improve their performance in continental competitions.
Malapane's experience in the CAF Champions League has provided him with valuable insights into what it takes to succeed at that level. He learned that for Lesotho teams, the only way to be successful in CAF is to dominate the domestic league and participate in the Champions League multiple times. This would allow them to gain the necessary experience and exposure to compete with top teams.
With their CAF Champions League campaign now over, Lijabatho will turn their attention to defending their Vodacom Premier League (VPL) title. The team will look to build on the lessons learned from their continental campaign and apply them to their domestic league performances. Malapane's experience and insights will likely play a key role in shaping the team's strategy and approach in the upcoming season.
Key points
- Lijabatho's CAF Champions League campaign ended with a 3-1 aggregate loss to CFFA.
- Malapane emphasizes the need for Lesotho players to have greater confidence and ambition to compete at continental level.
- Regular participation in continental football and thorough preparations are crucial for Lesotho clubs to become more competitive.
