Late bloomer Rasethuntša on cloud nine to open Likuena account
Likuena defender Rethabile Rasethuntša is over the moon to have finally opened his account for his country almost four years after making his debut for the national team.
The Leribe born defender was handed his first Likuena cap by Leslie Notši at the age of 27 during Likuena’s 3-2 victory over South Africa in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying match played at Setsoto Stadium in 2019.
Now the vice-captain to Sekhoane Moerane in the Likuena set-up, Rasethuntṧa opened his account when it mattered most scoring the first of the two goals as Lesotho beat Zimbabwe, who had become a hoodoo team for the Mountain Kingdom’s side over the years.
The 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe moved Lesotho to the summit of Group C in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers ahead of Tuesday’s match against Rwanda at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Before stunning the Warriors at Orlando Stadium on Friday night, Lesotho raised eyebrows when in November 2023, the Leslie Notsi’s coached side held Nigeria to a one-all draw at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
The Super Eagles had just handed Sao Tome and Principe a 6-0 thumping at the same venue before hosting Lesotho, but it took a late Semi Ajayi equalizer to rescue a 1-1 draw for the West African powerhouse.
Rasethuntša expressed his delight at finally opening his account for his country and stated that it was a situation that was giving him sleepless nights.
“Look, it’s something that I have been thinking about a lot because our goalkeeper recently scored a goal and my teammates were on my case that I need to open my account for the national team as well,” Rasethuntša said.
“I scored from a similar position to where Motlomelo Mkhwanazi scored from against Nigeria and I can say, his goal was a motivation for me, and I took the same position he was at when he scored that goal.
“When the corner kick was played and the ball found me unmarked, I told myself that it had to go at the back of the net for my first goal.”
The Leribe born defender admitted that it has been a rough journey to cement his place in the Likuena set-up since making his debut in 2019.
“When you watch from a distance, the thinking is that playing international football is very easy until you are part of that journey,” the defender said.
“In my case, I think things have become much easier after years of experience playing international football because I’m now familiar with the big stage but it’s tough playing against top teams.
“I have embraced the challenge and every game we play, is a learning curve for me as an individual and collectively as a group,” he said
