Moorosi Tsiane
LESOTHO Mounted Police Service (LMPS) Lioli are playing a cat and mouse game with over forward, Tšepo Seturumane, who still has not showed up at the police side which he was reportedly supposed to rejoin before the start of the 2017/18 season.
The lanky forward was supposed to have returned to the police side at the end of last season in terms of the agreement the two sides signed after he was hired as a police officer in 2015.
He played that season for LMPS before heading to Lioli last season and he has reportedly stayed on and continues to train with them despite the agreement that he rejoins LMPS this season.
LMPS public relations officer, Kotsoane Ramakau, said they were surprised that the player had not returned to them.
“It caught us by surprise that he hasn’t joined the rest of the team for pre-season training because the agreement with Lioli was clear that he will play for us for one season, then go back to Lioli for a season and join us permanently when the 2016/17 season ends,” Ramakau said.
“He is our player and as it stands he was supposed to have started training with the team.
“We wrote to them (Lioli) early this week reminding them about our agreement but we haven’t received a reply.”
For his part, Lioli general manager, Hlalele Matobako, confirmed receiving the letter but said Seturumane was still their player.
“We received the LMPS letter but to my knowledge Seturumane is a Lioli player. We are yet to open negotiations with them but for now he is with us until an agreement is reached.
“He is one of the best players and every one wants him in their squad,” Matobako said.
He however refused to comment on the contract that allegedly stipulates that Seturumane had to revert to LMPS at the end of last season.
“I am not going to comment on things that I don’t know so for now just take what I am telling you and if there are any changes you will know.”
Meanwhile, Ramakau said LMPS was stepping up their pre-season with a weekend camp in Swaziland where they will play different premier league teams in a mini tournament.
“For the past five seasons the team has been struggling but things changed for the better last season as we finished in the top eight. We want to have a good pre-season as the aim is to do even better next season. The team is going to Swaziland tomorrow to play in a four team tournament that was organised by Swaziland Police side, Royal Leopards.”
In another development, Sky Battalion defenders, Reitumetsi Maqalika and Katleho Tatai, Matlama midfielder, Relebohile Mabone and former Kick4Life midfielder, Kamohelo Kotelo, were spotted at LMPS’ training session and are set to travel to Swaziland with the team.