Moorosi Tsiane
TWO-time Premier League winning coach James Madidilane could leave Bantu for an ABC Motsepe League team based in the Eastern Cape, the Lesotho Times can reveal.
This also comes amid indications of a rift between the coach and his employers.
According to a source close to the matter, Madidilane has been in talks with the third-tier league outfit. The source said the club was now waiting for Madidilane to return from his Lesotho senior soccer team duties, where he is an assistant coach.
Madidilane was part of the technical team that led Likuena to their historic win over South Africa in the CHAN qualifiers in the last two weekends.
Likuena proceeded to the next stage of the qualifiers on 6-2 aggregate after edging Bafana Bafana 3-2 at home before trouncing the hosts 0-3 last weekend.
The source said the team (name supplied) has already paid for Madidilane’s transportation to Eastern Cape.
“He has been in talks with the team and they were just waiting for him to return from his Likuena duties so that the deal can be finalised,” the source said.
“I don’t know if the deal will materialise but he is considering taking the offer and the team has already paid for his bus ticket.”
Should the deal materialise the former South African international will be the second coach to leave Bantu in this transfer window period after goalkeeper coach Postnet Omony joined Absa Premiership side Chippa United in June this year.
Madidilane confirmed the interest of a South African team to this publication yesterday but said he was yet to decide.
“There is an offer from an ABC Motsepe League team in Eastern Cape. I am also tempted to take it but it is not an easy decision that can be made overnight. However, I think by Friday (tomorrow) everything would be finalised,” Madidilane said.
He said his contract with Bantu expired last month and he was yet to renew it.
“I don’t have a contract with Bantu since our contract ended last month. There were things that I wanted them to change in the contract but they brought it back unchanged and I couldn’t sign it.
“There were things that we agreed on in the last contract which they didn’t honour, so that is what has been holding me back from renewing it,” Madidilane said.
While admitting that he has benefited from his association with Bantu, Madidilane said it was however difficult to continue working with people who do not appreciate him.
“Bantu made me the coach that I am today and it would not be easy to leave, but there are also things which don’t sit well with me.
“The management knows my needs but they have been ignoring them. I know there are some people in the management who never liked me since my arrival…I have waited for three weeks to get a contract that takes into account what we agreed but nothing has come.”
He said he would also have to consider his coaching career before deciding his next move.
“I also have to consider at my career as a coach since I also need to grow, so at some point, I would have to leave Bantu.”
Asked whether he would also quit his Likuena post if he leaves Bantu, Madidilane said his prospective employers are aware of his role in the national team.
“The team that I am likely to join already knows that I work with Likuena, so I can still do them both. (If he leaves) On international breaks I can come here and continue with my work,” Madidilane said.
