Moorosi Tsiane
BANTU coach James Madidilane says has said he has decided to leave his defender Mkhwanazi Mkhwanazi out of his team to give him time to resolve his ongoing contractual problems with former employees, Lioli.
The hard tackling former Likuena defender, who has been the pillar of Bantu’s defence since joining on loan from Lioli at the start of this season, has already missed two matches-last weekends’ win against Galaxy and the one versus Majantja on Wednesday.
Lioli claim that the player is still theirs. Mkhwanazi left Lioli in 2015 to join Sandawana before he left for Linare in 2017/18. He however, left Linare at the beginning of the current season and joined Bantu.
Tse Nala claim that they have (when) a signed document by the player where the two parties agreed that Mkhwanazi would only join Bantu on a six months loan.
However, Bantu claim to have no knowledge of Mkhwanazi’s contract with Lioli.
Last month Lioli to the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) and copied the letter to Bantu and the Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) recalling the defender into their team but he has never reported until the closure of the January transfer window on Thursday.
Madidilane said the issue has disrupted his team’s work as Mkhwanazi sometimes misses training sessions due to long winding meetings with Lioli and Bantu management.
“I am the one who decided that he should take his time and work to resolve the issue because it was also affecting him as he couldn’t focus because he would report for training on one day and miss the next due to unending meetings,” Madidilane said.
“I realised it was wise to excuse him until he has resolved the matter and see where it will end because we also do not want to plan around a player whom we were not sure whether or not he will play for us.
“He met with the leadership on 24 January and he has also been in and out of meetings with our management but unfortunately at this moment I have nothing official that I can say about his fate.”
The last time Mkhwanazi featured for Bantu was in their away 2-1 loss against Enugu Rangers of Nigeria in CAF Confederations Cup a fortnight ago.
Madidilane emphasised that the player’s absence was not due to disciplinary issues as has been rumoured. The rumours have emanated from the player’s penchant for off the field problems.
“I will be lying if I say I have had any disciplinary problems with him (Mkhwanazi) since he joined us but just like any other player when he has family commitments, he would always communicate with me and we would give him time to attend to such challenges. This side maybe it’s easier to monitor him since he stays at the Mafeteng club house with other players,” Madidilane said.
The no nonsense Bantu mentor said he however, hopes that all the parties involved in the issue manage to amicably resolve it as he still longs to work with Mkhwanazi in his team.
“He is one of the best centre backs I have seen in this country and obviously I wouldn’t want to lose him so I just hope at the end they all reach a mutual understanding and let the player stay with us.”
Madidilane also advised the player to continue taking his career seriously “and realise his potential” while time is still on his side.
“I am sure he wouldn’t want to make mistakes which he will regret later when he will be reaching the twilight of his career. He has matured a lot tactically and I hope he keeps his head down and focused because a football career is very shot so he has to make the best out of it” Madidilane said.
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