Premier League champions want to boost coaching department ahead of continental jamboree
Mikia Kalati
Bantu are hoping to add former national team coach Leslie Notši to their technical department ahead of the 2015 African Champions League.
According to highly placed sources, Notši—who is currently club-less after leaving South African First Division side Garankuwa United—would join Bantu as an advisor on a temporary basis, while Motlatsi Shale remains head-coach.
Bantu would be making their maiden appearance in the continental tournament when it gets underway in February next year, and seek to reinforce both their squad and coaching department ahead of the annual showcase.
Contacted for comment, Notši professed ignorance of Bantu’s interest, but told the Lesotho Times he had heard about the “rumour”.
On his part, Bantu president, John Leuta, told the Lesotho Times the request for assistance had come from the technical department itself, adding several names had been suggested for the role, among them Notši, former national team captain Lehlohonolo Seema and former national team assistant coach Lehlohonolo Thotanyana.
However, with Seema heavily committed at Bloemfontein Celtic where he is an assistant coach, and Thotanyana being appointed Lesotho Football Association Technical Director this week, Notši is left the strongest possible candidate for the Bantu post.
Leuta told the Lesotho Times: “It is true we would want to reinforce our technical team ahead of the Champions League, but we are not firing Shale.
“The thing is, our technical team has requested that we get the expertise and assistance of an experienced coach such as Notši, Seema and Thotanyana.
“I would like to emphasise that this request came from our technical team; they asked for somebody with the necessary experience to help them during the continental competition and I don’t think that person would be in the post on a permanent basis.”
Leuta insisted Shale, who took Bantu to their first Premier League title last season, would remain head-coach of the team even if Notši was to join the team. He would also not comment whether or not the club had already approached Notši.
“Shale remains the coach; we are not even thinking of replacing him.
“It’s a fact that I have not been happy with the performance of the team of late, but that has nothing to do with the coach. The problem has been our players who were underestimating their opponents and we ended up dropping points unnecessarily,” said Leuta.
“I have warned the players against complacency and I believe we will be a better team when the second round starts.”
Leuta added Bantu, who are second on the 14-team Vodacom Premier League table halfway into the season, were looking forward to knowing their Champions League opponents when the draw is conducted in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday next week.
Bantu are seven points behind pacesetters Lioli going into the Christmas holiday break.
