Moorosi Tsiane
Maseru
Lesotho playmaker Bokang Mothoana has not been able to secure a new club outside the country because his Tunisian team, Union Sportive Monastirienne, is refusing to give him an international clearance, Sunday Sport has learnt.
Mothoana, popularly known as Lefty in the football fraternity, left Monastirienne in July 2013 at the height of Tunisia’s political unrest, which made it impossible for the football league programme to continue.
The gifted national team player, who is equally at home in midfield as he is at left-back, has been turning out for boyhood club FC Likhopo since his return — much to the surprise of many who believe his talents deserve a much bigger stage than Lesotho’s amateur league.
But in an interview with the Sunday Express, Mothoana on Friday revealed the owner of US Monastirienne was refusing to let him go for fear of fans’ reaction to his clearance.
Mothoana, 27, further said while he enjoyed his stay in Tunisia since joining Monastirienne in 2007, he had no intention of returning to the country for security reasons.
“I believe it’s now common knowledge that I had to leave Tunisia for security reasons. First, there was a minor earthquake which rattled the area I was staying in, and then the political unrest and frequent suicide bombings left me with no choice but to come back home.
“The league was not being played at the time because of the violence, so I had an agreement with the club that for my safety and for me to remain in shape, I should return home and continue with my fitness routine.
“The club president said he did not want to let me go for good because he feared that his businesses would be attacked by fans again,”
“What happened when I left the club in 2009 when it was facing financial difficulties, the fans attacked his hotels and vehicles after accusing him of not doing enough to keep me. So this time, he said he would not clear me lest he be attacked again.”
Mothoana however, said he had since sought guidance from the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) regarding the issue.
“I still have three months left on my contract, but I have been to Lefa to see if the association could help.
“I was advised of the procedures to follow and the Tunisia Football Federation has since intervened in the matter, and I hope I will be able to move on with my career,” said Mothoana.
Asked about his possible destination should he finally secure his clearance, Mothoana said: “There are some teams that have shown some interest in me in Europe, but that is all I can say at the moment. For now, I am training with Likhopo and enjoying every moment of it.”
After playing professional football for close to five years in Tunisia, Mothoana said he was ready for a new challenge abroad.
“I need a different challenge and hopefully, I can secure a move to some of these smaller teams in European.”
Asked how FC Likhopo are faring following the death of Bishop Molatoli — the team’s founder and coach who passed away in January this year — Mothoana said: “The team is trying to cope but they are still mourning Bishop’s death. One can see that the players are missing his influence and the passion he had for the team. This has resulted in some of them losing some of the intensity they had when he was alive.”
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