Mokhesi grateful for Makoanyane XI coaching role

Former national team goalkeeper Liteboho Mokhesi has spoken of his delight to be part of the National Under-20 coaching set-up as they fine tune their preparations for the upcoming COSAFA Youth Championship.

The retired goalkeeper, who was a member of the Lesotho Under-20 side that qualified for the African Youth Championship in 2005, stated that it’s an honour for him to be given the opportunity to pass his football knowledge to young players.

Mokhesi is also impressed with what he has seen in the current goalkeepers of the junior teams having assesed them during their recent friendly matches against Eswatini.

“I’m very excited with the opportunity to help improve and make the current generation of goalkeepers realise their maximal potential,” Mokhesi said.

“I am especially excited because I’m also able to impart knowledge on what I could only hope for during my playing days.”

The retired goal-minder stated that it would be a dream come true for him to help Makoanyane XI win the regional competition having come close during his career, where they lost 1-0 to Madagascar in 2003.

“It’s also more exciting to visualise the current Under-20 team winning some silverware while I’m still part of the technical team. I am hoping to help this team achieve great things never achieved before in this country,” the former national team goalkeeper said.

“We know the challenges that young goalkeepers face at club level in terms training and facilities for training. Well, I can’t say that much about the capacity of their goalkeeper coaches in the villages especially for those playing in the lower leagues, but I think it remains a big challenge as well.

“So, giving them a a chance to hone their skills in a national team set-up, where there is enough equipment and training facilities, it helps them to get the best that there is in terms of technic, goalkeeping and confidence to grow as goalkeepers.

“The whole set-up makes life very easy for them to grow and acquire all the skills that will help them fulfil their potential and be world class goalkeepers. This is the way to go and i believe we should start it at an earlier stage like with the under-12 teams especially now that we also have our under-23 team playing. It’s good move by the Association and I encourage it,” he said.