Pascalinah Kabi
MASERU — Former Likuena mentor Mahao “Bomber” Matete is set to be appointed Makoanyane XI head coach with Moses Maliehe being retained as his assistant, the Sunday Express has learned.
Sources within the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) said Matete was leading the race for the hot seat.
Matete’s name featured prominently during a meeting held by the Lefa executive committee on Thursday to discuss candidates recommended by the association’s technical team.
The list of candidates is expected to be forwarded to Lefa president Salemane Phafane tomorrow.
Lefa chief executive officer Mofihli Makoele however declined to confirm Matete’s pending appointment saying on Friday that Phafane was still to bless the deal.
“I am meeting with the president on Monday to give him the information that we requested on all the coaches recommended by the technical team,” he said.
But a source within the association who requested anonymity said Matete was likely to be appointed Makoanyane XI mentor.
Matete would not be new to the national team set-up.
He was the national team coach in the 1990s until 2005. He has also had successful stints with the Under-17 side.
If he wins the race, as expected, Matete would replace Leslie Notši who was appointed Likuena head coach last month.
Thabo Pule, a former manager with the Under-17 side, is also tipped to be appointed the Under-20 manager with Rantsubise Matete taking over the managerial reins with the Under-17 team.
The source said Notši will be assisted by Lehlohonolo Thotanyana while Khiba Mohoanyane is also likely to be appointed senior national team manager.
“Bishop Molatoli will retain his position as Under-17 coach with Motheo Mohapi (the Lesotho Defence Force coach) working as his assistant,” he said.
Speaking at the unveiling of a M150 000 sponsorship deal by insurance giant Metropolitan Lesotho on Wednesday Lefa public relations officer Baba Malephane said his association will announce members of the Under-20 technical team soon.
Malephane said it was important to announce the new technical team soon so that the coaches start preparations for the Metropolitan Cosafa Games in December.
“The Under-20 national team is expected to start training for the Metropolitan Cosafa Under-20 Games which will run from December 2-10 in Botswana,” he said.
Although Malephane did not disclose the members of the new technical team there are strong indications that the team will be headed by Matete.
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