MASERU — Joy want to keep inspirational midfielder Shetsane Ramoseeka on their books although he is set to re-join Teyateyaneng giants Lioli.
Ramoseeka joined the Sebothoane side, who finished ninth in the just-ended Vodacom Premier League season, from Tse Nala in 2007.
But Ramoseeka is now set to return to Teyateyaneng after his three-year deal with Joy ended.
The 25-year-old giant had become a key player for Joy, helping them maintain their elite status against great odds.
However, Joy team manager Tšepang Molapo said they had not given up hope of keeping Ramoseeka.
“Its 50-50 whether he will stay but Lioli haven’t approached me yet. I also haven’t talked to him yet,” Molapo told the Lesotho Times.
Molapo’s sentiments were echoed by Joy coach Motlatsi Thibinyane who described the player as crucial to the team.
“He is very important. Where he plays he is the backbone of the team,” Thibinyane said.
“I can also play him as a defender or in midfield so he is a utility player.”
Thibinyane also said they would try and talk to midfield lynchpin Moli Lesesa.
Lesesa was meant to return to Joy after spending the last six months on loan at relegated Nyenye Rovers.
However, Lesesa last week said he wanted to quit the game.
“We haven’t met him (Lesesa) yet but he is still our player, and you don’t want lose a player like that,” Thibinyane said.
He added that it was important for Joy to have a strong team as they seek to improve on the season they have just had.
“I believe we can improve,” Thibinyane said.
“We started the season playing well, but we lost our focus so I would say that we didn’t do well at the end of the day.
“So there is room for improvement but we need our best players.”
Thibinyane said Joy needed to beef up their strike force.
“Next season we have to beef up up-front,” he said. “Our play this season was good but the problem we had was scoring goals.”
The Sebothoane boys scored a meagre 29 goals throughout the season.
Only three teams — Nyenye Rovers, Rovers and Majantja — scored fewer goals and all were relegated.
“We are already looking at players. But at the moment I’m not in a position to say which ones,” Thibinyane said.
