Moorosi Tsiane
LIKHOPO managing director Queen Molatoli has hinted at the possibility of selling the club’s premier league franchise if she fails to secure new sponsors after a difficult 2016/2017 season.
Affectionately known as The Red Army, Likhopo narrowly survived relegation on the last day by beating Liphakoe 2-1 to finish 12th in the 14-team premier league.
The two time league champions lost some key players at the start of the season as well as their sponsorship from the Matekane Group of Companies (MGC) in mid-season.
They signed a two million maloti deal for two years with MGC in 2012, which was subsequently renewed before MGC pulled the plug in September 2016.
Molatoli recently told the Sunday Express that she was hoped to find sponsors in order to preserve the legacy of her late husband and founder, Bishop Molatoli.
“There is no doubt that we went through a rough patch last season and our problems started when we lost key players as we could no longer afford them,” Molatoli said, adding this was compounded by the loss of MGC sponsorship.
She however, said she was proud of the inexperienced players who saved the team from relegation.
However, Molatoli said she would not rule out selling the team if she failed to secure sponsorship.
“For now the focus is on securing sponsorship and I am in talks with several companies who promised something so I am banking on that.
“But at the same time we should not ignore the fact that running a team requires a lot of money which I don’t have and if it comes to a point where I will be left with no other option but to sell then I guess there will be nothing else to do,” she said.
Molatoli, who has been in charge of the team since the death of her husband in January 2014, said that selling would be the “most painful experience”.
“Ntate Bishop regarded the team as his children and I feel the same way because he always involved me in every decision.
“So I’m very attached to it and selling will never be easy at all. I just pray and hope that we never get to that point.
“I am satisfied with the players we have and they proved to be die-hards when the team went through tough times and nothing will make me happier than seeing them playing for us next season.”
She however, said reinforcements were needed in the striking and goalkeeping departments to transform the team into contenders for honours next season.
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