Moorosi Tsiane
KICK4LIFE skipper Johannes ‘Mathoho’ Molapo says he has mixed emotions about his time with the Old Europa outfit.
Mathoho joined Kick4Life from Bantu at the beginning of the 2019/20 season.
The youthful outfit finished 10th in this year’s Covid-19 interrupted Econet Premier League season. The Lesotho Football Association decided to prematurely end the league with eight matches to go because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
The former Makoanyane XI defender told the Lesotho Times on Monday that a lot had happened in a short period hence he had mixed emotions about it all.
“So many things happened within a short space of time and I ended up with mixed emotions. However, I believe that I had a good season,” Molapo said.
He said he was shocked to be named the team’s captain in his first season when there were already some suitable players at the team.
Mathoho said it took him longer than he had expected to settle at the team because of the new responsibilities.
“There were so many experienced players at my previous club, Bantu. They knew what to do and did not need someone telling them what to do. The situation was different at Kick4Life where the players are young. So, I had to adjust.
“I was shocked to be named captain but I knew what the coach (Bob Mafoso) was expecting from me because he explained before signing me. That is why I accepted the role and I am happy that I got support from my teammates.”
He however, said the season did not pan out as expected since they were targeting a top four finish.
“Unfortunately, things didn’t go as we had planned and I think one of the things that contributed was changing of coaches.”
Mafoso left Kick4Life shortly before the 2019/20 season and was replaced by Katiso Mojakhomo. Mojakhomo was fired early this year and Paul Westren took over.
“We just had a bunch of players who were hungry for success and were always willing to learn and I think that is one of the things that helped us despite all the other challenges.”
Mathoho said it was tough after Mafoso’s departure.
“I was worried that the coach who brought me to the club was leaving. However, I remembered that I needed to do my job. Coach Bob was also very honest with me, because he told me that he brought me to Kick4Life for the team not for himself…
“We may have failed achieve our targets but I am confident about the upcoming season,” Mathoho said.
