Mikia Kalati
LIOLI recently reported that their utility player Jerry Kamela had gone AWOL after serving a three months suspension.
I must say that I’m disappointed in the manner that Tse Nala have handled their top players in recent years.
We all know that Kamela has nursed serious injuries in the last two seasons and also struggled for fitness to get his career back on track.
I also know that the player attempted to reach out to the club for assistance with his medical bills to no avail and it’s not surprising that in the end he ‘disappeared’.
Anybody in his position would behave the way especially when he had given his best for Tse Nala when they enjoyed success in the last five years.
I’m not encouraging players to rebel against their teams but it is also important for clubs to take care of their players especially during tough times when a player has been sidelined with a long-term injury.
Kamela has served Lioli for a long time since joining from the now defunct Joy FC and the least he expected from the club was to return the favour during his time of need.
It has become common practice for clubs and even the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) in some instances, to turn their backs on players when they suffer injuries as has been the case with Kamela.
Injuries are taxing mentally and physically for athletes because they require a lot of money and support from one’s circles always come in handy. Kamela needed support from Lioli more than anyone else.
I hope that the management at Tse Nala admits that they blundered in their handling of the issue so that they resolve the impasse and move on.
Kamela’s story and that of Motlalepula Mofolo sound similar. Mofolo was last season forced into retirement over what was deemed disciplinary problems but has since come out of the retirement since the appointment of Lehlohonolo Thotanyana.
It was clear from last season that a lot of the club’s supporters were unhappy with the decision to force Mofolo out of the club and the player has proved already that he still has a lot to offer.
Mofolo played a key role as Tse Nala clinched the Independence Cup in October, which came a few months after he came out of retirement.
I think the administrators of the beautiful game must admit when they make mistakes and I feel Tse Nala’s management were wrong in the manner that the handled Kamela’s situation based on the hardships the player went through with injury in the last two years.
I feel for Kamela considering what he has gone through in recent years for a player who was the 2015/16 Player of the Season and had played every national team game in over three years.
The whole debacle has surely taken its toll on him and he needed Tse Nala on his side.
On that note, I would also want to wish team Lesotho well ahead of their participation at the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 games.
Just like the Deputy Minister of Sport, Rethabile Mahlompho Mokaeane, said during the send-off ceremony last Friday, our athletes should give a powerful display since as the country will be hosting the next edition of the games in 2020.
We definitely have to leave a mark in Botswana and comeback with the best ever performance to be displayed by Lesotho at the games.
Good luck team Lesotho!
