Mikia Kalati
HUGE expectations await Matlama president Ikarabele Sello who was last week elected the new Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.
Sello returns to the PLMC replacing Bantu president John Leuta, who did not stand for re-lection.
Of course, Leuta’s tenure at the helm of the PLMC had its ups and downs especially in the 2017/18 season but in my view the man did well for the country’s game and deserves commendation.
He also did well by deciding not to stand for re-election to give others a chance to bring in new ideas and it is my hope that the new committee will deliver.
I believe that the game has made great progress in the last three seasons in terms of competition and securing of sponsors.
Leuta and his committee were able to convince three sponsors for their three competitions to come up with improved prizes and it is now the task of the new committee to grow from this stage.
Our football could also do with a new cup competition to add on to the LNIG Top8 and Independence Top4 which feature only the top teams in the league.
It would be good for our football to have a tournament that features all the clubs in the league so that even the small clubs can get a go at the big guns in cup games.
It is also important that we now have a stable league since last season when Econet Telecom Lesotho came on board and expressed willingness to help improve the standards of the game having recently announced a new pre-season tournament to boost all the clubs financially.
Sello also has a lot to prove to the football fraternity that he is the right man to take us forward since he leads a club that has been unstable in recent years failing to dominant local football like it used to in the past.
But there is hope since we saw an improved Matlama last season which won the LNIG Top8 to end an almost decade-long drought.
His committee seems to have a good balance provided by lawyer Khotso Nthontho who is the new secretary and is expected to bring professionalism. He is also a humble man with good knowledge of the game.
The vice president Hlompho Maitin has done well as a young football administrator having played a notable role for Sefothafotha to earn promotion into the top-flight league. He has transformed the side into a competitive side in its first year in the Premier League.
The new public relations officer, Moeketsi Ramakatsa, of Liphakoe is another down to earth man who has done a lot of good work for the Quthing outfit.
In him the league has found a unique spokesperson. This is the one position that has not been treated with respect in the past despite the fact that it is vital for the development and marketing of local football.
The last two members of the committee are former football players Donny Ntakha of LDF and Bahaleroe ‘Valdez’ Leleka from Linare.
On numerous occasions there have been calls for the inclusion of ex-footballers in the running of the committee which runs the affairs of the league and this is a befitting way of heeding such calls. The duo was idolised in its playing days and it is my hope that they get the necessary support to improve our soccer.
All we can do is to wish the new committee the best as it begins its two-year term.
