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Mannetti aware of Lesotho’s threat

Mannetti aware of Lesotho’s threat

The Brave Warriors will have to be aware of Lesotho’s threat in their 2017 COSAFA Cup quarter-finals encounter when the regional football show-piece kicks off in Rustenburg, South Africa from 25 June to 09 July 2017.

The 2015 champions the Brave Warriors were a seeded side and got into the quarter-finals draw of the tournament and it emerged that Lesotho will offer the challenge for the Ricardo Mannetti’s side to reach the semifinals. The draw took place on Tuesday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

On the football associations website this week, reacting to the draw, Mannetti said it was about the threat of Lesotho and how they can counter that and make sure they progress to the next round.
“I know Lesotho very well; they play positive football with a lot of energy. We will have to control those qualities which I think we are capable of doing”, Mannetti said.

“We aim to win the trophy and in order to do we will have to beat Lesotho to make sure we reach the semifinals and ultimately the final match. We will take it one match at a time because that is what it’s really about. You can’t play the next game before the one you have to play”.

The Brave Warriors gaffer further explains that his team’s preparations will determine how they do in the match against Lesotho and the tournament at large.

“It is not much about who we drawn against but our preparations and intensity. We have faith in our strengths and approach and we will have to perfect that and go and play our way,” he added.

If they do progress past Lesotho, the Brave Warriors will face the winner of Quarter-final One between last year’s losing finalists Botswana and Zambia. In Quarter-final three, defending champions South Africa will face winner from Group A that comprises of Tanzania, Malawi, Angola and Mauritius. Tanzania replaces Comoros Island who withdraw from the finals. Swaziland will take on winner of Group B which is made up of Seychelles, Madagascar, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

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The Economist does not have a dedicated sport reporter. This designation is used for several contributors who want their sport stories in the Economist. Experience has taught us that companies usually want their sport sponsorships published prominently, being the reason for a sports category. It now also carries general sport items but only those with direct Namibian relevance. - Ed.