It was a bumpy ride, says Makateng

MASERU – Likuena striker Katleho Makateng has opened up about his first season playing professional football in South Africa, which he described as very challenging.

The 24-year-old forward moved to the greener pastures of the DSTV Premiership with Richards Bay after an impressive 2021/2021 season in the Kingdom, where he had a clean sweep in the Vodacom Premier League end of the season awards.

Makateng won the Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season as well as the Top Goal-scorer accolades and hit the ground running playing for Likuena in both the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2022 COSAFA Cup.

While he was thrown into the deep end in his early days at Richards Bay, the forward went through a rough patch along the way struggling for game time and was mostly used as a substitute coming from the bench.

He featured in 17 games in all competitions for the Natal Rich Boys scoring just once in the Nedbank Cup, with games against DSTV Premiership winners, Mamelodi Sundowns.

“Yes, the season was very tough. New environment, new people, new team. It was challenging in that Richards Bay were rookies in the DSTV premier league, a new territory for all of us in the club,” Makateng stated.

“When we started the season, I think we were focused and motivated as a new club, but with time especially in the second round, lack of experience worked against us hence our struggles.

“But we learnt a lot and I expect the second round to be better collectively and as an individual as well.”

Since coming back home for the off-season, Makateng has linked up with the senior national team, Likuena, ahead of next month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Comoros scheduled for Orlando Stadium on June 17.

Likuena will also play at the 2023 COSAFA Cup in Durban, but before that, the Lesotho Football Association has lined up friendly matches against Eswatini and Togo.

The Leribe-born forward has made good use of his time back in the Kingdom donating over 31 pairs of school shoes to underprivileged children at Pitseng Primary School, where he did his primary studies.

“When I came home after the end of the season, I felt I should do something and give back to the community by helping children at my old school who come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said.

“I bought 31 pairs of school shoes for kids whose families are struggling to help give them the confidence to enjoy school like others.

“I also bought soccer balls for the school to revive the passion and love for the game among the youth because that’s where we started and we need to do our part to inspire the next generation,” he said.

Mikia Kalati