Mikia Kalati
Freeze Ntene has signed a one-year deal to extend his stay as head coach of Sundawana Football Club, ending widespread speculation that former Bantu coach, Motlatsi Shale, would be moving to the ambitious Butha-Buthe outfit.
Ntene this week confirmed to the Lesotho Times he would be in charge of Sundawana when the new season roars to life next month.
“That’s true; I have renewed my contract with Sundawana and will remain the head-coach here at-least for the upcoming season,” said Ntene, who joined the club midway last season.
“I’m very happy to remain with the club, but at the moment I cannot say much as I can only discuss my plans once the club has bought the quality players that I have requested. Only then can I can say what the ambitions this season will be.”
The former Linare mentor says he wants to have a competitive side and is having meetings with his bosses to map the way forward.
“I have told the Sundawana management that expectations are very high now as far as this team is concerned and as a result, we need to get good players if we are to compete with the premier league’s big guns,” said Ntene.
According to Ntene, Sundawana are currently assessing Botswana’s Arnold Sdunkero Matalazi, who is from Lobatse-based premiership side Extension Gunners.
The central defender is 19 years of age and has represented his country at under-20 and under-23 level, but is yet to play for the senior team.
The ambitious team, owned by popular traditional healer Thato ‘Sundawana’ Nkone, will also assess players from Ghana in the upcoming weeks. The club has also shown interest in former Bantu midfielder Mosiuoa Boseka.
The left-footed midfield-maestro was released by Bantu allegedly for indiscipline and has recently been training with Lesotho Correctional Service Football Club who are under a new coach, Mpitsa Marai.
Meanwhile, the country’s most successful team, Matlama began their pre-season yesterday under new coach Lehlohonolo ‘Killer’ Mokhele. Tse Putsoa parted ways with veteran coach Ntebele Taole at the conclusion of the 2014/15 season and elevated Mokhele to the hot seat.
On the other hand, Lesotho Mounted Police Service and Lioli have confirmed that they are discussing the possibility of Tšepo Seturumane and Basia Makepe joining the police team. Both Seturumane and Makepe are currently training to be police officers and are set to graduate this month.
The two players missed the second round of the premier league season, but still Mosholu ‘Shoes’ Mokhothu’s side managed to win the championship.
On their part, newly promoted Liphakoe say they have not made changes to their technical team and that inexperienced Kallaela Tseka remains the head-coach.
Club secretary, Rorisang Mosuoe, told the Lesotho Times that Tseka remains in charge of the team despite his lack of premier league experience.
Liphakoe is the home team of the club-less Shale, who once coached them when they were in the lower division. Another reunion remains a possibility as he also started his playing career at the Quthing-based side.
