MASERU — Bantu FC are set to embark on a massive recruitment drive in preparation for next season, according to the club’s communications and marketing manager Molefi “Livo” Lengosane.
The Mafeteng side finished third in the just ended Vodacom Premier League season and are now seemingly the team on everybody’s lips.
The club’s stated ambition is to win the Vodacom Premier League and Lengosane said there was no shortage of suitors for Bantu as they seek to add to their squad.
“There are many players; every player wants to go to Bantu, and its key players from other big teams in the league,” Lengosane told the Lesotho Times on Monday. “They all want to join Bantu.”
Last year Bantu, who are sponsored by Metropolitan and Puma, were heavily linked with an audacious move for Lioli captain Thabo Masualle and Lengosane said the club was prepared to invest in order to build a championship winning squad.
He said every department needs to have two players as cover.
“In front, in midfield and in defence we still need a few players. There can be injuries so we need to have depth,” Lengosane said.
He however refused to disclose the names of players the club are eyeing to sign.
Lengosane however said there could be some departures too.
Right-back Mohapi Ntobo, who only joined from Lioli in January, is reportedly unsettled at Bantu and Lengosane admitted there could be players who could leave Bantu’s nest.
“There are some who want to go to other teams. We are not sure, it will be clearer in the next few weeks,” Lengosane said.
Bantu have enjoyed a remarkable rise back to the top of Lesotho football.
The club suffered relegation in 2005 and only won promotion back to the top-flight in 2009.
But Bantu finished sixth in their first season back then and last season finished third. The club is aggressively trying to end its 16-year trophy drought.
Before the start of this past season A Matšo Matebele signed seven players and splashed a club record M8 000 on Lesotho Under-20 starlet Mosiuoa Boseka.
Likuena internationals Tefo Maipato and defensive rock Tlali Maile were signed in 2009 and have both been integral to the club’s success over the past two seasons.
Lengosane however would not say whether Bantu would give coach Tšehla Lerotholi a long-term contract as part of the Lesotho Football Association’s licensing system before the start of the 2011/12 season.
Lengosane added Bantu would have an AGM on July 10.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Times can report that the transfer of Monteoli Sonopo is well on course after his documents were taken to the Spanish Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.
The 17-year-old Lioli starlet is in line for a move to Spanish side Atletico Madrid and a high level source within Lioli revealed the process to obtain a visa for Sonopo had begun.
