MASERU — Lioli stars Sello ‘Muso, Mohapi Ntobo, Brown Makobe and recent signing Baholo Sefatsa have been dismissed by the club.
The quartet has been involved in a string of misdemeanours — mostly connected to alcohol abuse — and Tse Nala have finally lost patience.
‘Muso and Brown were seen in the stands during Lioli’s Vodacom Premier League encounter with LCS at the Central Prison on Sunday.
Ntobo featured in the one-all draw but that could have been his last game for the Teyateyaneng giants.
Lioli president Lebohang Thotanyana said the players had failed to heed previous warnings and as a result would be shipped out when the transfer window reopens in January.
“We were dealing with people who thought they are above Lioli and did not listen to anyone,” he told the Lesotho Times.
“They have been expelled from the club. We are now fed up.”
“They are not welcome at the club (and) in January we will find new teams for them,” he added.
In September Lioli became the first local team to award contracts to its players.
The contracts included behavioural conditions.
However, ‘Muso, Ntobo, Makobe and Sefatsa are all alleged to have failed to control their drinking.
They have also been struck off the club’s payroll.
“Our policy is that of no work no pay,” Thotanyana said.
“We clarified that to them and the contract set standards that were required of the players.
“We tried to counsel them . . . we spent a lot of time and money.
“But the situation has not improved. They are not compatible with what we are trying to achieve at the club.”
Thotanyana said he did not expect the expulsion of the quartet to cause commotion within the team.
“In fact, we had a lot of pressure from the players who were concerned and they felt we were treating these players as favourites,” he said.
“We are trying to be fair to the other players.”
‘Muso, popularly known as Scalo, despite his talent has been dogged by ill-discipline in his career.
He was coveted by South African Premier League side Ajax Cape Town as a youngster and went for trials at first division club African Warriors last year.
‘Muso helped Lioli win the Premiership in 2009 to add to the two championships he won with Likhopo in 2004/05 and 2005/06.
Ntobo and Makobe were also part of Lioli’s title-winning side while Baholo Sefatsa joined Tse Nala from Nyenye Rovers for M5 000 at the start of the season.
“It’s very disappointing. They are very instrumental players and they were in the plans of the coach,” Thotanyana said.
“Unfortunately football is not just about the performance on the field. Discipline plays a huge part.”
“We are definitely going to go on a shopping spree to replace them,” he added.
