Likhopo coach axed

Luciah Phahla

Maseru

ShalaneLehohla has been sacked as Likhopo coach.

The Red Army parted ways with Lehohla on Monday and have placed assistant coach TšelisoMofolo in temporary charge until the end of the season.

Lehohla was appointed as Likhopo coach in July last year and led Likhopo to a fast start this season characterised by slick, attacking football.

Likhopo were unbeaten after their opening seven games and briefly topped the Vodacom Premier League.

At the time, Likhopo appeared on course for at least a top four place.

However, since reaching the league’s summit on November 1, Likhopo have only won two of 14 matches and find themselves sixth, five points adrift of the top four with five games to play.

Yesterday, the club released a statement saying management found Lehohla “no longer compatible with the club” and that they had “no choice but to dismiss” him.

“FC Likhopo management found without any alternative but to dismiss coachShalaneLehohla with immediate effect,” the statement read.

“He was found no more compatible with the club; the club will be under the guidance of TšelisoMofolo until the end of the season.”

Likhopo have lost three of their last four league matches and appear unlikely to get into the top four.

The Red Army were also knocked out of the Lesotho National Insurance Group Top 8 by Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) at the first hurdle but did show character in coming from two goals down to force a draw 2-2 with Lioli two weeks ago.

Nevertheless, Likhopo general manager QamakoMahao insisted Lehohla’s dismissal was not due to results.

Speaking yesterday, Mahao said disagreements between management and Lehohla over the running of the team were the reason for the coach’s ousting. He would not go into details but said there was an agreement between the two parties outlining how the team should be run.

“It’s not about the results at all. There was an agreement of how we are going to work; there were things that we were agreed on in terms of how the team should be run and when we no longer agreed or shared the same vision we decided to let him go. It has nothing to do with the results,” Mahao said.

Contacted for comment, Lehohla would not disclose if he had an agreement with management regarding the running of the team. He referred thepost to the club saying they are the ones with knowledge of any pacts.

Lehohla instead accused the club of not granting his requests although he would not reveal what they were.

“I think they are the ones who know the agreements, but I do not remember them (management) doing anything that we requested despite writing letters to them,” he said.

Lehohla said he has a good relationship with Likhopo’s players but refused to say if he is still on good terms with the club’s management.

“I don’t know if you are asking about the club, management or the players but, I have a good relationship with the players, we get along. I don’t know about them (management) because I would only see them at the grounds (during matches),” Lehloha said.