HLOTSE — Likuena international and Joy midfield-lynchpin Moli Lesesa has been suspended by his club.
The 26-year-old was instrumental in the unfashionable side’s stunning 2008/09 season, inspiring Joy to an eighth place finish in the league.
But Lesesa — who has 23 caps and one goal for Lesotho to his name — has endured a frustrating 2009/2010 campaign and is yet to feature for the Sebothoane side this season.
“Yes, Moli has been suspended,” Joy manager, Tšepang Molapo told the Lesotho Times on Tuesday. Molapo said Lesesa had been suspended for failing to attend training sessions. “Moli knows the reasons why we suspended him and I’m happy that he has started correcting them.”
Lesesa’s performances last season meant he was coveted by numerous clubs in the off-season. Nyenye Rovers have been the most interested but Joy are refusing to release Lesesa, despite the player having expressed interest in joining the Premiership rookies.
Molapo insisted Lesesa’s suspension had nothing to do with the transfer wrangle with Nyenye Rovers. He would not discuss the matter further: “Nyenye Rovers have their own representatives; I won’t talk about them,” he said.
Nonetheless, the suspension marks another twist in what is now becoming a full-blown saga.
Lesesa’s suspension effectively means he is club-less and therefore, his case cannot be taken before the Disputes and Protests Committee (Disproco) as had been planned.
Nyenye — and Lesesa —had reported the case to the Lesotho Football Association, two weeks ago but the player’s suspension has compounded the problem.
“The Premier League had said they would forward the case to Disproco but now they can’t,” Nyenye Rovers public relations officer, Thabiso Jomane said.
The only way Lesesa’s case can be handled is if he turns-out for Joy in competitive matches. Although both Molapo and Jomane are denying it, the squabble between Joy and Nyenye Rovers appears to have soured relations between the Leribe rivals. “We are still fine, even though they say I have done political science,” Jomane joked.
Lesesa himself has returned to training with Joy and was involved in a four-team friendly tournament in Hlotse involving Joy, Nyenye Rovers, Mphatlalatsane and Mpharane Celtics at the weekend.
Lesesa refused to comment but acknowledged his suspension: “The suspension is there but I don’t understand it,” Lesesa said.
