Mikia Kalati
THE Likuena trio of Tumelo Khutlang, Tshwarelo Bereng and Luciano Matsoso had mixed fortunes last weekend at Black Leopards in the first match under new coach Dylan Kerr following the departure of Joel Masutha.
Masutha, who was on Sunday appointed the new Chippa United coach, signed the Likuena trio after their impressive displays at the COSAFA Cup in South Africa earlier this year.
Khutlang hit the ground running for the Limpopo outfit scoring in his debut match in August and has featured regularly for the club under Masutha.
Amid speculation in the country that the newly appointed Leopards coach may have dropped Khutlang for his first game, the left footed Likuena winger told the Lesotho Times that he was nursing an injury after helping Likuena in the 1-0 win over Tanzania last month.
“I was out with injury since coming back from national duty and it’s only on Monday that I will return to training if I pass the fitness test by the team’s doctor,” Khutlang said.
“There is nothing to worry about, I spoke with the new coach and he told me that he has heard that I’m a good player though he is aware that my confidence has taken a knock in recent games.
“He has been encouraging me and promised to get the best out of me. From what I have seen so far, he is a good coach and will help the team.”
Meanwhile, Tshwarelo Bereng was over the moon after he finally made his debut for Lidoda Duvha in the 2-1 loss to Bidvest Wits on Saturday night.
Bereng, who has played for South African clubs like Moroka Swallows and Chippa United, is confident that the match against Wits was the first of more to come for him after joining the club in the off-season.
“I think it was long overdue but there is no looking back and I’m looking forward to playing more games.
“The new coach is well organised and looks like he has a plan to help the team. We just need to adjust quickly to his style and the results will come.
“I’m confident that we will turn the corner soon. We need to create our own luck by converting the chances we get to win matches,” Bereng said.
Matsoso on the other hand also returned to training with the club this weekend after almost two months on the sidelines.
The diminutive winger has been on the sidelines since September after suffering an injury while on national duty.
He is yet to make his debut for Lidoda Duvha.
“I hope to start training with the rest of the squad after recovering from injury. Of course, it is frustrating that I was not playing before the injury and I’m hoping that things will improve or I will have to reconsider my future with the club,” Matsoso said.
Black Leopards are at the bottom of the South African Premiership with just nine points after 12 games.
