Moorosi Tsiane
LIOLI utility player Tšoanelo Koetle (26) is set to move to Bantu in a swap deal that will see the Teyateyaneng side sign striker Tsietsi Motšeare.
According to sources close to the deal, the two teams have already met and discussed the details of the swap and what is left is Koetle’s return from international duty where he will be playing in the CHAN qualifier against South Africa on Sunday at Setsoto Stadium and next weekend in South Africa.
“It was Bantu who came up with the proposal when Lioli asked them about Motšeare’s availability,” a source said.
“So, the two teams sat down and discussed the move and agreed to swap Koetle for Motšeare. They are now waiting for Koetle to return from his national team duties so that he can sign his contract.”
Lioli general manager, Matobako Hlalele told the Lesotho Times that the deal is nearing completion.
“We are in talks with Bantu and the deal is almost done as there are only few a logistics that we need to finalise first,” Hlalele said.
However, Hlalele was reluctant to say why they are releasing their long-serving player.
“I am not in a position to answer that for now but I think our technical team are in a better position to answer why Koetle is leaving.”
Hlalele also confirmed that they have signed veteran midfielder Bushy Moletsane whose contract with Matlama have ended last month.
“We have also signed Bushy on a season-long deal from Matlama.”
Although Bantu president John Leuta confirmed that his technical team is working to bring in Koetle from Lioli, he said he is yet to get a full report.
“I just know that our technical department is working on that issue, I don’t have full details of what is going on now because they are yet to report to me,” Leuta said.
On whether they are not bothered by Koetle’s off the field disciplinary issues, Leuta said he would not be the first to join on the back of such fears.
“Koetle is not the first player to join us and people are worried about his discipline, we had the likes Mohapi ‘London’ Ntobo, Brown Makobe just to name a few but they never gave us problems.
“Just like every Bantu player, he (Koetle) will sign a code of conduct and he will have to behave like all other Bantu players, so we are not really worried,” Leuta said.
If the move materialises, Koetle would be the fourth player in history to leave Lioli for bitter rivals Bantu after Ntobo, Makobe and Thabo Masualle. Players who have left Bantu for Lioli are Lekhanya Lekhanya, Teboho Nthako and Thabiso Mohapi.
