Mikia Kalati
MATLAMA FC have confirmed having talks with Bushy Moletsane over the veteran midfielder’s return to the club after a decade at rivals Lioli.
This comes after Moletsane’s contract with Tse Nala expired at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Moletsane came to prominence at Matlama in 2003 and was part of the team that won the league that year before leaving the country most successful club for the Teyateyaneng outfit.
He helped Tse Nala win four league titles since joining the club in the 2008/9 season when they ended their 24-year drought of the biggest prize in domestic football.
He also had short spells with Botswana clubs, Flamingo Santos and Botswana Police XI in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Lioli president Lebohang Thotanyana confirmed that Moletsane’s contract expired but talks to renew it failed to yield results.
The Lioli boss said their door is still open for the 34-year old as they feel he still has a huge role to play at the club.
Tse Nala has also off-loaded several high-profile players ahead of the new season.
Apart from Moletsane, Lioli have parted way with Tšepo Lekhooana, Bokang Sello, Obakeng Modirwa, Tšeliso Mosikidi, Joseph Lekata, Tebello Mofokeng and Sebaka Maseko.
The squad also sold Tumelo Khutlang who has been signed by South African premiership side Black Leopards.
Long serving defender Shetsane Ramoseka has retired from football while Itumeleng Leche will be loaned out.
Matlama coach Mosito Matela on the other hand said his side is confident that they will sign the player this week.
“Though the matters are still being handled by our office, it is true that we are interested in bringing him back to the club.
“Nothing has been finalised at this stage and the team will communicate but we are hopeful that by the end of this week all will be finalised,” Matela said.
Matela also said his side will not go big on the transfer market and they are only hoping to add just three more players.
The club has also been linked with former Kick4Life duo of Tšeliso Ramafikeng and Fedel Ntoya.
“I think we will sign three or four players because we are not releasing any players. We may loan out a few of our youngsters so that they can get game time,” he said.
Matela said they are yet to get communication about star forward and the clubs’ top goal scorer, Motebang Sera’s anticipated move to South Africa Mbombela United in the National First Division.
“There is nothing concreate at the moment. All that we have heard are the rumours but we have not been approached by any team for his services,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kick4Life are reported to have completed the signing of Tšeliso Botsane from Sefotha-fotha.
The young striker will be reuniting with his former national under-20 coaches Leslie Notši and Bob Mafoso, having worked with them in 2017 as Makoanyane XI.
Sefotha-fotha, who are preparing for their second year of top flight football are however, uncertain over the future of Mosholu ‘Shoes’ Mokhothu.
Mokhothu joined the side’s technical team midway the 2017/18 season but has recently been linked with a move to Bantu to take up the assistant coach post.
