Teboho Molapo
MASERU — Likuena international Bokang Mothoana says he wants to guide his side Union Sportive Monastir back into Tunisia’s top-flight league.
US Monastir were relegated from Tunisia’s top-flight league in May but are currently riding high after a fine start to the new season in the second division, the Tunisian Ligue Professionelle 2.
The club have notched five wins and a draw, with only one loss in their past seven matches.
Mothoana has been a vital cog in the rejuvenated US Monastir’s machine after featuring in all but one of the seven matches so far.
Speaking in an interview with the Sunday Express last week, Mothoana said the club was fighting hard to ensure it is promoted back into the elite league.
“My goal this season is to play each and every game as well as possible and help my team to play in the premier division again next season,” Mothoana said.
“Our goals as a team are to play in the premier division next year and secondly to go as far as possible in the Tunisian Cup.
“Nothing is impossible if you believe.”
“So far it has been good,” he added.
“We are now starting to play as a team and starting to understand one another because most of the players are new to the team, so is the coaching staff.”
Lefty, as Mothoana is affectionately known, is one of Lesotho’s finest football exports.
The Likhopo youth product is one of only four professional footballers from Lesotho, the others being Lehlohonolo Seema of Mpumalanga Black Aces in South Africa and Bushy Moletsane and Lehlomela Ramabele who ply their trade in Botswana.
Mothoana first signed for US Monastir in 2007 and helped the club reach its first Tunisian Cup final in 2009.
He briefly returned to Lesotho last year in September and enjoyed a three-month stint with Likhopo during which he scored four goals in seven games. He rejoined Monastir last December on a three-year contract.
Although the left-footed dead-ball specialist is yet to find the net this season, Mothoana said he was content with his form during his second stint in the North African country.
“It has been good, everybody appreciates me and what I’m doing,” he said. “I’m very happy with my performance so far and so are the coaching team and the supporters.
“(But) I feel I can improve my speed because I’m not a very fast player — there is always room for improvement.”
Mothoana who was part of Lesotho’s side who qualified for the Caf African Youth Championships in 2005 also expressed delight at Makoanyane XI’s qualification for next year’s edition in Libya.
“I’m very happy because it has brought back the joy to football lovers in the country,” he said.
“They have done us proud and raised the flag high.”
“It also shows that we have the potential to make it big as a country,” he added.
“I believe if the team can be kept together even after the African Youth Championships and play as many games together as possible we can have a bright long-term future.”
Mothoana revealed he was also keeping close tabs on his former team Likhopo.
Mothoana was part of Likhopo’s last title-winning side in 2006.
And after their memorable Vodacom Soccer Spectacular triumph a fortnight ago, Mothoana said he believed Likhopo were capable of completing a league and cup double this year.
“If Lesotho’s junior teams are doing very well then Likhopo will win the league,” Mothoana joked.
Likhopo provide the bulk of the players in the national youth teams.
“They showed in the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular that they can do it,” he said.
“But cup games are totally different from league games — now they have to work even harder than before and have a very high level of concentration and discipline.”
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