Mikia Kalati
BANTU star, Maloisane ‘Chukwu’ Ramasimong, is close to completing a move to Bloemfontein Celtic, the club’s chairperson, John Leuta, has said.
The 2017/18 Premier League Player of the Year has been training with the troubled Free State based outfit that has lately been dogged with serious financial challenges.
Ramasimong was among Bantu’s outstanding players as the Mafeteng outfit won the league title for the second year in a row.
The skilful winger, along with defender Tsietsi Khooa, were recommended to the Celtic team by the club’s assistant coach and former Likuena captain Lehlohonolo Seema. Seema regularly travels to watch the side play.
However, Khooa did not impress at Celtic and has since joined the club’s pre-season preparations.
Leuta told this publication that chances were high that Ramasimong will join the South African premiership side and eventually return to his home country.
The Free State born diminutive winger came to Lesotho two years ago following his former youth coach at Celtic, James Madidilane.
He won both the Econet Premier League Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards and bagged a collective M17 500 after an impressive season with A Matšo Matebele.
The Bantu boss said his side would not make many changes to their league winning squad apart from Ramasimong.
“We will not make many changes to our squad apart from replacing Ramasimong who has impressed at Celtic,” Leuta said.
“He is the only one who is likely to leave as Celtic have already told us that they want to sign him and we should forget about him. We are waiting for them to come to us and finalise the deal.
“That is why we have moved quickly to sign his replacement.”
Bantu recently signed another South African, Benson Chana from Super Stars in the lower division in his country, who is set to replace Ramasimong. The player came to the country on last week and is already training with the club.
Leuta said they already have a memorandum of understanding with Celtic and all would be finalised in due course.
“We have a good understanding with Celtic so finalising the deal will not be a problem. We are yet to really establish how Bantu will benefit from the move.
“However, they are impressed with the player and want to sign him for the new season. I am hopeful that they will get back to me soon so that we can conclude the deal,” Leuta said.
