Moorosi Tsiane
FORMER Matlama skipper Mabuti Potloane says the defending Econet Premier League champions’ biggest challenge this season has been inconsistency.
Matlama went into the Coronavirus induced break in second place with 34 points after 18 matches. This is a staggering 16 points behind leaders Bantu.
In the past two seasons, Matlama has won the LNIG Top8 (Mosito Matela), the 2018/19 league title, and the Econet Soccer Spectacular under the mentorship of Thabile Secker.
But Tse Putsoa are having it tough this season under new coach Charles Manda who led them to an early CAF Champions’ League exit. They have also failed to defend the Econet Soccer Spectacular and were also knocked out of the Top8 title.
The side however, won the Independence Cup last December.
Potloane, who was crowned the 2014 premier league player of the season, told the Lesotho Times this week that his side has been inconsistent and unlucky.
“We have lost matches that we dominated and also drew too many games which I believe we could have won,” Potloane said.
“We have been inconsistent and that has cost us everything.”
The absence of last season’s top goal scorer, Motebang Sera, who joined Bloemfontein Celtic at the beginning of the new season, has also made a difference. Sera’s departure, Potloane said, has made a bigger impact than the departure of league winning gaffer Thabile Secker.
“Sera’s services are surely missed. He was outstanding last season and without him, our team has lacked the cutting edge. We are no longer the as potent as we used to be with him around. In fact, he thinks the side has improved.
“I think we are playing better soccer than in the last two seasons. We have just been unlucky.”
Potloane hopes the coronavirus induced break will give his side a chance to improve its form.
“Before the break, we had one on one sessions with our coaches and were also given programmes to follow at home and I hope by the time the league resumes, there will be a turn around.
“My only worry is that unlike other professional athletes, we have no access to gym equipment while it is also difficult to train on your own. Apart from that, there are now movement restrictions and we can’t even jog.
“This is an extremely challenging situation and chances are that this will put a serious dent onto our efforts to retain the league. However, I take solace in the fact that all league teams will be affected and not only Matlama,” Potloane said.
