…as Shale continues contract negotiations with Bantu
Moorosi Tsiane
Lioli coach, Mosholu Mokhothu, has been awarded a one-year contract extension by the newly crowned premier league champions.
Mokhothu’s one-year contract was set to expire this month, but after guiding Lioli to domestic football’s biggest prize, the amiable coach has been retained by the TY-based outfit for another term.
Shoes, as Mokhothu is affectionately known in football circles, replaced Lehlohonolo Thotanyana at the start of the 2013/14 season after winning back-to-back league titles with LCS in 2010/11 and 2011/12.
After initially indicating he needed time off from football to be with his family last season, Mokhothu subsequently had a change of heart and would be back as Tse Nala head-coach once again next season.
“It’s true that last season, I had said I needed time away from the sport because I wanted to spend more time with my family. However, the Lioli management indicated that they wanted me to stay on, and I discussed the issue with my family, so I will still be with the team as head-coach for at least another season.
“But we still have not signed anything, and hopefully, I will be given the contract before the end of this week like the (Lioli) president (Lebohang Thotanyana) has promised,” Mokhothu said on Wednesday.
Since joining Lioli, Mokhothu has guided the team to the Top8, Independence Cup and premier league titles.
Meanwhile, Mokhothu said Lioli had “a very good 2014/15 season” both on and off the pitch hence the league title the team won with a match to spare.
“It was a good season for us and the results are proof of that consistency and unity of purpose. We won the Top4 tournament and also the league title, which was quite an achievement considering the opposition which was equally tough.
“Our technical team did an outstanding job, but defending the league title next season is going to be very challenging so we need to have thorough preparations before the new campaign begins. We need to have a clear plan of action if we are to retain the title,” said Mokhothu.
Meanwhile, the future of Bantu coach, Motlatsi Shale, remains uncertain as the Mafeteng-based outfit has not yet renewed his contract which expired last month. Shale joined Bantu two seasons ago and won the league championship in his first year at Bantu, but the team were runners-up to Lioli in the just-ended campaign.
Shale told the Sunday Express: “What I can tell you is that my contract with Bantu has ended, but we are negotiating a new deal. There are things that I was not satisfied with in my last contract so I have tabled them before the management so the ball is now in their court. I am only waiting for their feedback.
“There are a lot of things happening right now which do not allow me to comment more. But like I said, we have held several meeting with management, which according to me, were not successful at all because I will not sign any new deal with the those issues I have cited still unresolved.”
Bantu spokesperson Bokang Phasumane also confirmed negotiations with Shale were in progress.
“Shale is a good coach who has done wonders for our team. Remember, he won about three trophies in two years with us and helped the team finish second behind Lioli this past season so we are still negotiating with him; we still want to work with him,” Phasumane said.
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