Lesotho striker Motebang Sera says the Crocodiles showed more hunger than Swaziland in winning the quarter-final clash between the two Kingdom countries to secure a place in semi-finals of the COSAFA Cup.
Swaziland headed into the Saturday’s match as favourites being 19 places ahead of the Crocodiles in the FIFA rankings while also won the last encounter between the two countries in a competitive match.
However, Sihlangu succumbed to a late Sera’s solitary goal after he came from the bench to help Lesotho clinch 1-0 victory and book a place in the semi-finals of the regional competition for the second successive year.
The 23-yeal-old admitted that it was a good feeling coming from the bench to score a late winner for his country.
“It was really a special goal for me personal and the team as a whole because we managed to secure a place in the semi-finals of the competition,” Sera said.
“When I came in, the plan was to change the game for my country and getting the only goal of the match was a bonus.
“I dedicate that goal to our Queen back in Lesotho, as she was celebrating her 42ndbirthday on Saturday.
“I think on the day team work was very key for us. We fought with everything we had; the spirit had been very high in our camp going into the game.
“I was not surprised in the end that we won the match because of the hunger I saw from my teammates in our training sessions leading to the game.
‘We wanted it more and in the end it paid out for us.”
Sera, who plays for Matlama in the Lesotho Premier League, said he is aware that they will have to be even better going into the semi-finals, where they will meet the winners of a Sunday quarterfinal clash between Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Added Sera: “I am very positive that we are here to make it to the final. That has been our target preparing for this tournament and I’m confident that all will go according to our plan.
“We just have to maintain that togetherness and the hunger we showed against Swaziland.”
By Mikia Kalati
