MASERU – Bob Mafoso, who recently returned to the Bantu hot-seat following the departure of South African Moeketsi Abram Mongaya, has opened-up on his love affair with the Mafeteng-based outfit after returning for a third spell at the club.
Mongaya left Bantu following reports of a fall-out with the hierarchy of the club, which came after a string of poor results that saw Bantu lose control in the race for the Vodacom Premier league title.
However, the club has since found their groove back after Mafoso was brought in to save the situation with Bantu winning two matches in a row including against Linare who were also in the race for the championship.
Mafoso admitted that he did not expect to return to Bantu so soon having left the club last season to explore other options.
“Honestly, I think it happened too soon and I did not expect it to happen now,” Mafoso stated.
“I was shocked when the team approached me and I must confess, it was against my principles. It is just that this is a team that have made it very difficult for me to say no to.
“First of all, I was surprised that the coach who was doing so well, left the club during the final games of the season.”
Mafoso downplayed his influence in helping Bantu get their groove back as they now look favourites to clinch the Vodacom Premier League title, where they enjoy a four-point advantage over second placed LDF with three games to go.
The Mafeteng outfit are also in the race for the People’s Cup, which will get underway in Bocheletsane, Mantšonyane, this weekend.
“Well, I have a chance to be part of a team that may win trophies this season, but a lot of work was done with quality and I consider myself very lucky to be part of this group at this stage of the season,” the 2020/2021 league winning coach said.
“I think they were already a winning team; they have been topping the league for almost the entire season and it wouldn’t be right to think that I have made nor brought any changes.
“No one can change anything within this short period that I have been part of the technical team. Coaching is a process that needs time for one to start influencing the performance,” he said.
Mafoso could not comment on future plans with Bantu beyond the end of the current season and stated that his focus is on finishing the job at hand.
“I think we need to concentrate on the job at hand and then see what happens at the end of the season,” Mafoso said.
Mikia Kalati