Mikia Kalati
BANTU president has ruled out the possibility of Hlompho “Stiga” Kalake returning to Matlama after the Econet Premier League leaders recently presented a bid for his services to the Mafeteng outfit.
Leuta told the Lesotho Times that Matlama submitted their bid for the talented midfielder after they also made an enquiry about signing the unsettled Phafa Tšosane.
Both parties confirmed to this publication last week that they have been exchanging communication over the two players but Leuta said Kalake made it clear to his management that he is not interested in returning to Matlama.
“Indeed, they wrote to us after we had also written to them about Tšosane but after discussing with him, Kalake told us that he is not interested in joining Matlama and has no plans of leaving Bantu,” Leuta said.
Regarding Tšosane, who Matlama president Paballo Makakole says is not for sale, Leuta said they are still confident that they will sign the Tse Putsoa star midfielder during the current window which closes today. He said if they fail to sign him in the January window, then they will secure his services when his contract ends with his current club at the end of the season.
The left footed midfielder, who is currently the longest serving player in the Matlama squad, is said to be serving the last few months of his contract.
He has not featured for Matlama in the last three games as he is allegedly unhappy with his earnings and unfulfilled promises by the club.
“As far as Tšosane is concerned, we have our people handling the matter but the player has made it clear that he is interested in joining Bantu.
“I think they are also aware that the player wants to leave. If they don’t release him, we will sign a pre-contract with him.
“We will find options with the player over the matter,” he said.
Leuta, who is a former Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) chairman, is also confident that his side will win the race for in the demand Majantja striker, Keketso Snyders.
Majantja recently confirmed that both Bantu and Lioli have shown interest in the big forward while LCS have also entered the race for his signature.
“We are still talking with Majantja and there is a possibility that we could sign him before the transfer window closes.
“That will be based on whether or not the two teams strike a deal,” added Leuta.
Regarding his club’s elimination from the Confederations Cup, Leuta said he was happy with the performance of the side which became the first local team in almost two decades to make it past the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
“As an individual, I think we did very well because our plan was to do well on the continent after enjoying a lot of success in the domestic league.
“We were unlucky with the away goal rule loss to Mbabane Swallows in last-year’s edition of the tournament and we had planned to go past the preliminary round this time around and we did.
“I think we did very well. We achieved or mandate and we will give out a new one going forward.
“As we continue to play in continental tournaments we are learning and improving. We want to do things better. We have learnt from the teams which we played and gathered a lot of knowledge.
“We now know what we have not been doing right especially in the home games,” Leuta said.
