No changes to Lesotho squad to face Ghana

Serbian Zavisa Milosavljevic, Lesotho’s coach, has not tampered with the team he had selected for the postponed game against Gabon, for the match against Ghana.

Likoena will travel to Free State tomorrow for Sunday’s 2010 Wold Cup-Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Black Stars at Free State Stadium.

This will be Lesotho’s opening match after failing to travel to Libreville for a game against Gabon due to the air traffic strike in the West African country. Fifa is still to decide on the outcome of the game.

The soccer authorities in Lesotho have been granted permission by their South African counterparts to play their home games in Bloemfontein.

Their home, Setsoto Stadium in Maseru, is under renovation with the hope that one of the countries participating in the World Cup will use it for training.

Milosavljevic yesterday told Sowetan from their camp in Maseru that the technical staff were impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by the players.

“The disappointment after the failure to go to Gabon is now behind us. We are faced with the big one against Ghana, who are one of the giants of African soccer.

“It is always great to play against the big guns. You don’t really have to say much to the players as it is a norm in football to rise to the occasion against the giants.

“There are always surprises in football, for those who believe in Christianity will tell you about the fight between David and Goliath.”

Meanwhile, the Blacks Stars – who walloped Libya 3-0 on Sunday – arrived in Johannesburg yesterday and immediately caught a connecting flight to Bloemfontein. David Nhlabathi, Safa executive member and head of security, was on hand to welcome them at OR Tambo Airport and ensured that they connected with the flight.

On the same day in Mbabane, the Shakes Mashaba-guided Swaziland take on Togo, who will be spearheaded by England-based Emmanuel Adebayor.