Moorosi Tsiane
MATLAMA striker Lehlomela Ramabele’s future with the reigning Econet Premier League champions remains unclear.
The towering striker ran out of favour with the Tse Putsoa coach, Thabile Secker, and struggled for game time since Secker took over as Matlama coach at the start of the 2018/19 season.
Ramabele was snatched from Liphakoe in January 2018 by the then Matlama coach, Mosito Matela, and he went on to be one of the most important members of the team that won the LNIG Top8 tournament last season.
However, things took a different turn at the start of this season after Matela was moved to the technical director position at Matlama and Secker appointed as the head coach.
Ramabele spent most of his time watching from the sidelines or from the stands except in matches where Matlama marksman and the top goal scorer Motebang Sera was unavailable for selection.
In an interview with Sunday Express on Friday, the former Botswana Defence Force XI striker admitted that he had a horrendous season with Matlama under Secker and said he is still contemplating on his future as he still has six months left on his contract.
“It was indeed a bad season for me under our new coach I can admit,” Ramabele said.
“I am happy that the team won the league and I am happy for my teammates but for me nothing much can be said because I didn’t contribute and that is painful.
“I still have six months left on my contract, so I am yet to meet with the management and the technical director to hear what the way forward is.”
The former national team striker however, made it clear that if Secker continues as Matlama coach, he will be left with no other option but to leave the team if the management allows him.
“I still want to play for Matlama but the problem is that I am aware that the coach doesn’t like me, so I guess if he continues coaching the team I will be left with no other option but to ask to be released from the team.
“I approached him several times because I didn’t understand what was happening. Before he came to coach here, we used to get along even during his first days in the team. But things changed towards the end of the first round when I left due to work commitments to eSwatini. I noticed his approach towards me was different I still asked him what was the problem and he said there was nothing wrong, so I don’t know,” Ramabele said.
Ramabele said he has two offers from Botswana teams but he is yet to decide whether or not to go.
“I have received two offers from Botswana although I will not reveal the names of the teams now. I am yet to decide whether or not to go because the sides wanted me to go as soon as I can but I want to resolve my relations with Matlama first so that I go with a clean conscience,” Ramabele said.