Majantja prepare for life in A-Division

MASERU – Majantja, who were celebrating a Vodacom Premier League spot last month, are preparing to start the new season in the A-Division as there seems to be no resolution in sight between Kick4Life and the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) over the name Majantja will use in the top-flight.

Majantja sealed a deal to buy Kick4Life team last month but the transaction has hit a snag after LEFA said the Mohale’s Hoek club must register with the Kick4Life name to start the 2022/23 season.

LEFA says Majantja will then be allowed to apply for a name change later and return to using their traditional name, however, Kick4Life are unwilling to allow their name to be used by Majantja, even for a short period of time.

Majantja have already missed the LEFA standard deadline to register for the 2022/23 top-flight campaign and would need special dispensation to play in the premiership next season.

The club says if the issue cannot be resolved, they will have no choice but to accept the situation and return to the A-Division where the 1995 Lesotho champions have been campaigning since 2019.

Majantja says the main issue is now between Kick4Life and LEFA.

Kick4Life want a written declaration from the association that if they allow Majantja to register in their name, the Mohale’s Hoek side will be able to change it before the season begins. However, an agreement has not been forthcoming from LEFA.

LEFA secretary general Mokhosi Mohapi is currently out of the country attending the CAF General Assembly in Tanzania.

Majantja’s spokesperson, Lehlohonolo Moeketse, said failure to get the deal over the line will have serious ramifications for football because it will further dissuade business people from getting involved in the game.

Majantja’s dream jump to the elite league was secured last month when Mohale’s Hoek businessman Cloete Mdlovokana financed the deal to purchase Kick4Life’s Vodacom Premier League status.

In total, the transport tycoon forked out M180 000 and also secured the Mohale’s Hoek DIFA Ground as a home venue for the club which sparked celebrations in Mohale’s Hoek.

“For now, it’s still the same, there is no resolution,” Moeketse said.

“Kick4Life want it written down that we will be able to change the name if they agree to let us register with theirs, that’s where the issue is.”
Moeketse said this debacle could scare away potential investors from football.

“If there is no solution there is nothing we can do, we have accepted, and the people have accepted we will go back to the A-Division, but as sports people what would this mean for football? We have a businessman (Mdlovokana) who was willing to put his own money into helping the club, but will this happen again after this?” he asked.

Kick4Life have made it clear they would not be able to run a Vodacom Premier League team next season and that is why they sold their spot in the league to Majantja.

LEFA blessed the deal and said Majantja will have to apply for club licencing using Kick4Life’s name and then start a process to apply for name change down the line.

LEFA said this was made clear during the clubs’ negotiations. Kick4Life have so far been reluctant to allow their name to be used and the club wants to return the money from the sale to Majantja.

Having missed the deadline to apply for LEFA’s club licencing, Majantja are now waiting to see what punishment they will face.

Tlalane Phahla