ENGLISH
MBABANE – Lesotho registered a historic victory yesterday afternoon, edging Eswatini 15-13 in a fiercely contested BOLESWA Tri-Nation Rugby Cup opener at the Prince of Wales Sports Ground.
The two sides raised the curtain on the second edition of the week-long tournament, which also features Botswana, with kick-off taking place at 2pm in Mbabane.
According to the Federation of Lesotho Rugby, Likotola had been chasing their first win on foreign soil in seven years. Having claimed the inaugural title on home turf last year with a 37-12 victory over Sizeze, Likotola successfully broke their away jinx by repeating the feat on Eswatini soil.
Both teams had concluded their final preparations with lunchtime training sessions at the Prince of Wales ahead of the match.
Likotola fielded a balanced squad that featured 17-year-old Siyabonga Lekhooana and was captained by veteran Mothepu Mokhothu of the Lesotho Rugby Academy. The side is coached by Khauhelo Raphepheng, assisted by strength and conditioning specialist and former player Liteboho Mahase.
Sizeze, on the other hand, named a 29-man squad for the tournament under the guidance of coaches Andre Muller and Thando Shongwe, with forward Mcebo Ngwenya captaining the hosts in their bid to keep the trophy on home soil. However, despite a spirited effort from the home side, Lesotho held firm to secure the narrow 15-13 win.
Action in the tournament continues on Wednesday when Lesotho take on Botswana, before Eswatini wrap up the competition against Botswana on Saturday, October 31.