Mikia Kalati
MASERU — Former Likhopo coach, Motlatsi Shale, has been appointed the new head coach of Bantu Football Club. Shale replaces Caswell Moru who will now head the youth structures at the Mafeteng-based side. The lanky former Likuena striker will be assisted by Motolo Makepe who makes a return to the club after a brief spell in their technical team a few years ago.
Bantu’s communications and marketing manager, Bokang Phasumane, confirmed the appointment of Shale adding their new coach has already started work with the club.
“We sat down as the executive committee after losing the league title in the last stages of the 2012-13 season and after a post-mortem agreed that he was the right man to lead this team to their first ever league success,” Phasumane said.
“The changes are part of the new project to make sure this team is a success in the upcoming league campaign.” He also announced that the team has parted ways with veteran coach, Ntebele “Mocholene” Taole, who was the technical director and Mosito Matela who was the assistant coach.
Retired former Lesotho international, Lehlohonolo Seema, who is also the chief scout at Bloemfontein Celtic is the new Bantu technical director. “Shale’s track record speaks volumes and we see him as the right man to wrestle the league championship back from Lioli in the new season,” said Phasumane. “We were very impressed with his work at Likhopo having lifted the team from the relegation places to finish among the top teams,” he said.
Shale played for Likhopo before he hung his boots. He honed his coaching skills at the same club. He left the team for a short coaching spell with A Division side Liphakoe before making a return to the club at the start of last season. The former Likuena striker has also had a spell with Free State giants, Bloemfontein Celtic, and has also played for the likes of Matlama and LCS.
He was part of the Likuena team that reached the final of the regional Cosafa Cup where they lost to Zimbabwe.
He is also one of the premier league coaches who completed the Confederation of African Football (Caf) C-licence coaching course. Likhopo team manager, Qamako Mahao, conceded that Shale is a good coach and can lead his new team to league success.
“He is doing well as a new coach and have no doubt that he can do well at his new club,” Mahao said. “I just hope that the environment at Bantu will suit him because it will be very vital for him to succeed,” he said. “Our only concern is that he is yet to write to inform us of his departure that is why we have not even got his replacement as yet.”