Bantu to unveil new coach

Luciah Phahla

Maseru

Bantu president John Leuta says the club will announce a new coach before next Monday.

Leuta said the Mafeteng giants are preparing to regroup on June 27 to start preseason preparations and want to have a coach in place by then.

Leuta was speaking in an interview with thepost on Tuesday and revealed the club’s newly-elected executive committee has appointed a team to find a new coach for ‘A Matšo Matebele’.

Last month Bantu sacked Bafokeng Mohapi after the club finished in a disappointing sixth place in the Vodacom Premier League and several names have been linked with the high-profile vacancy.

Two weeks ago thepost reported South African born James Madidilane was a frontrunner to take charge. However, Leuta, declined to comment on the identity of Bantu’s next coach only saying the club is casting its net wide.

“We have cast our net wide. From Swaziland, Mozambique, South Africa, anywhere, even here in Lesotho, we are open and we have been talking to different people,” Leuta said.

“The new executive has selected a team charged with appointing the new coach, it will be done before the 20th (June) because the players are coming back on the 27th for preseason,” he added.

Leuta also explained the club’s early elections by saying Bantu’s executive committee members also needed to “examine themselves” as the leaders of the team.

‘A Matšo Matebele’ held elections on June 5, a year early, and Leuta admitted the club’s executive could have done a better job this past season where Bantu failed to secure a top four spot for the first time in five years.

“The executive committee elections were supposed to be held next year but we made a decision to hold them this year because, honestly, we were not good ourselves,” Leuta said.

“Technically we were not good enough ourselves, we needed to fix ourselves first because the management contributes 50 percent of the team’s success and growth, it’s not the coach only who can bring success,” he said.

Seeking to return to the top table next season, the 2014 champions also added to their end of season sweep by placing nine players on the transfer list last week. The list comprises first team stars Thato Mabitle, Isaiah Mosala, Ossala Sorrel, Tšoeu Mosollo, Tšoloane Mosakeng, Katleho Moleko, Dulang Tselang, Keketso Lichaba and Thabiso Mohapi.

Bantu’s new executive committee:

President: John Leuta

First vice-president Molefi Lengosane

Second vice-president: Jimmy Lenka

Third vice-president: Worku Arsema

Communications and marketing manager: Motlatsi Mofokeng

General manager: Khabisi Molantoa

Members:

Molupe Lehohla

Kopano Nchephe

Tefo Rabolinyane

Tumisang Ramanyaka