Jelusic reacts to COSAFA draw: We respect all opponents equally

Lesotho Coach Veselin Jelusic has welcomed the draw for the 2023 edition of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup after his team was pitted alongside Angola, Mozambique, and Mauritius in Group C

The tournament will be staged in Durban from July 5-16, where the Serbian born coach will be heading to his second COSAFA Cup in charge of Likuena, as the Lesotho team is affectionately known.

Likuena had an impressive start to the 2022 edition of the tournament beating both Malawi and Mauritius in their opening two matches but faltered in their last game, where they needed a point against Eswatini to win their group.

Jelusic is adamant this year’s tournament will be a good platform for him to unleash the young members of his squad.

His provisional squad includes several youngsters, who are still in their early twenties and uncapped for the senior national team such as Linare duo of ‘Melere Lebetsa and Koenehelo Mothala as well as Mosoeu Seahlolo and Mohlomi Makhetha of LCS.

The likes of Ngaka Lenka from Swallows, Bantu utility player Leluma Phosholi and Mokoteli Mohapi of Lioli, are other young members of the provisional squad that will be looking to play at the COSAFA Cup for the first time.

“We respect all opponents equally and will try to provide good games and achieve the best possible results.  But above all, we will try to give a chance to some younger players,” Jelusic said.

“We hope that they will take advantage of this opportunity and become regular players of the national team in the future as well as perhaps draw the attention of professional teams outside of Lesotho.”

The regional body, COSAFA announced at its AGM on Friday, that Hollywoodbets returns as the title sponsor of the COSAFA Cup as well as the upcoming 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship and the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Champions League.