Likuena star on trial at Pirates

Mikia Kalati

LIKUENA and Matlama striker Motebang Sera is on a weeklong trial at the Soweto giants Orlando Pirates, the Sunday Express can reveal.

The lanky striker has grown in structure since making his breakthrough at Tse Putsoa and has also become an important member in Moses Maliehe Likuena squad.

Sera has been Matlama’s top goal scorer over the last two seasons and was also the runner-up to Mojela Letsie (2016/17) and Nkoto Masoabi (2017/18) in the Econet Premier League’s golden boot.

The lanky striker has grown in structure since making his breakthrough at Tse Putsoa four seasons ago and has also become an important member of Moses Maliehe’s Likuena squad.

He is being assessed alongside Zambian duo of Stanley Chimaninine and Charles Kashiya.

Matlama president Paballo Makakole confirmed Sera’s trials at Pirates and told the Sunday Express that they were shocked when the received invitation from Pirates to assess their striker.

“Yes, it is true that Sera is on trial at Pirates,” Makakole said.

“It’s a week-long trial which started on 29 November and ends on 7 December.

“It came as a shock to him and us but the club wrote to us requesting to assess the player.”

Makakole said they had to make sure that this was not another scam after Likuena goalkeeper Sam Ketsekile was recently conned into travelling to South Africa after he had purportedly been called by Mamelodi Sundowns.

“When I spoke to the player, he was shocked just like ourselves and we immediately contacted the Orlando Pirates office to avoid what happened with Ketsekile.

“It’s then that we made arrangements for him to travel alongside midfielder Katleho Moleko, who was in the Pirates Youth development structures some years back so that he could ensure that it’s not another scam.

“Katleho gave us positive feedback that indeed the player is at Pirates,” Makakole said.

Tokoloho Moeketsi Orlando Pirates’ brand manager confirmed to the Sunday Express that the Soweto giants have been assessing the Likuena striker, who arrived in South Africa on Thursday.

He also revealed that Sera played for their reserve team on Friday evening.

“We have the player at the club on trial for a week. He played for the reserve team on Friday but I wouldn’t say how he played because I was not at that match. We will be in a better place to comment once the coaches have made their report on the player.

“At the moment he is training with the reserves because the senior team has been preparing for the weekend league match,” Moeketsi said.

There are currently four Likuena players plying their trade in South Africa. The trio of Tumelo Khutlang, Tshwarelo Bereng and Luciano Matsoso play for Black Leopards while Nkoto Masoabi plays for Real Kings in the National First Division.