Moorosi Tsiane

Injured Matlama and Likuena midfielder Mabuti Potloane says his fate in either team is the last thing on his mind as he is only focusing on making a full recovery.

The talented playmaker joined Matlama from Linare in January this year and had settled well at the Sea Point-based outfit.

However, the 29-year-old is yet to play since the 2015/16 premier league season started in August after suffering an injury in June while on national duty in Ethiopia.

Potloane started light-training this week and insists he is only concerned about returning to fitness and not his place in Matlama and the national team, Likuena.

“I started the last part of my rehabilitation this week because I am now doing light-training. Initially, I was only going for physiotherapy at Tšepong Hospital and Lehakoe Centre. My focus at the moment is full recovery and then getting fit. Other things such as my place in the team will come later,” Potloane said.

“I understand there will be competition to get into Matlama and Likuena, and I am happy to see my club-mates doing so well in the league. That only shows I will have to fight hard to win back my place in the starting line-up.”

Potloane says he is not sure when he would be back in action again, but paid tribute to his coach, Moses Maliehe, and teammates, for being supportive during his “difficult time”.

“I am going through a difficult time my brother, because this injury was really serious. I am grateful for the support I am getting from our new coach and the rest of the team because without it, it was going to be even harder to be out of the game this long.

“I am not sure when I will start playing again but I hope it will be soon as I am making good progress in my recovery.”

Named Vodacom Premier League Player-of-the-Season for 2013/14 while still the captain of Linare, Potloane says he has been able to do his duties at WASCO where he is employed.

However, being out of the game he loves is taking its toll on the midfielder, he also pointed out.

“This rehabilitation is taking too much of my time. You will find that sometimes I don’t have time to go and ask for money at LeFA (Lesotho Football Association) since I was injured while on national duty, so the arrangement is I pay for the treatment myself and then get a refund later.

“I just hope I make speedy recovery so that I can move on with my soccer career.”