Kick4Life lays off more players

Moorosi Tsiane

ECONET Premier League side, Kick4life has released six more players.

This brings to nine the number of players that the club has released this season.

Among the players who have been released are defenders Lerotholi Seeiso and Liteboho Nkune, goalkeepers Liteboho Mokhehle and Lebohang Nkieane, and midfielders Tšepang Ntšenyane and Paballo Mafeka.

This follows the release of Innocent Ncala Matlapeng, Teboho Ramothobi (both defenders) and Nkopane Tabi (midfielder) in May this year.

Kick4Life media officer Reitumetsi Tlopo told the Sunday Express that the team decided against renewing the players’ contracts due to its forecasted financial constraints on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The team has decided not to renew their contracts because no one can tell how long the Covid-19 will take,” Tlopo said.

“We are trying to avoid a situation where we would not be able to pay them because of financial challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

He said while they still needed the players’ services, the situation has forced the club into releasing them.

In fact, Tlopo said, if the side’s financial situation improves, they may end up re-signing them.

“There is a good chance we may resign them if the season resumes but that will also happen if by then they wouldn’t have been signed by any club.

“At this point we could not make any promises to the players when their contracts have run out and we are unsure how long the situation will take before it normalises.”

Releasing the nine players has reduced the team’s financial burden as they are now only obliged to pay players with running contracts.