Mikia Kalati
LDF and Likuena goalkeeper Likano Mphuthi has vowed to comeback stronger after successfully undergoing a knee surgery in Bloemfontein last week.
The 29-year-old short-stopper had solidified his position as Likuena’s first choice goalkeeper over the last two years and was instrumental in the country’s 2018 COSAFA Cup campaign in Polokwane, South Africa. Likuena came third in the competition.
However, since then, Mphuthi has spent a lot of time on the treatment table, missing out on the action for both club and country because of the injury.
“The injury has been giving me problems for some time but I did not think it was too serious until I went for scans,” Mphuthi said.
“It’s then that I realized that the injury was serious and had to go for an operation. For that I want to thank the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) for helping go for the operation in Bloemfontein.”
Mphuthi said he is confident that he will bounce back strongly once he has healed to focus on his career without any worries.
“I’m confident that once I have healed and have completed my rehabilitation, I will be back to my best again.
“I have been in and out of action over the last year because of the injury. If all goes well, I’m expected to be out of action for six weeks before I can return to training but could even go beyond that,” he said.
Mphuthi said he is unlikely to play any part for LDF in the remaining games of the second round and will also miss Likuena’s crucial 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Cape Verde next month.
“It’s very painful that I will miss a lot of action for both club and country. Like I said, I did not think the injury was that bad at first so much that I will be sidelined for this long.
“However, I have to come to terms with the reality and go through the necessary processes to get back to my best. I have confidence in those who have taken over from me at both my club and the national team. I also believe that it’s good for my career that I have gone through with the surgery to overcome the stress that came with the problematic injury,” he said.
Mphuthi is also likely to miss the 2019 COSAFA Cup to be staged in South Africa in May as Likuena aim to improve on last year’s third place finish.
