Matlama coach set for SA coaching stint

MASERU – Matlama’s league winning head coach, Molebatsi Mothobi, will leave the country on Sunday for a weeklong coaching stay in South Africa. Mothobi will spend the week with South African premier league sides Orlando Pirates and Sekhukhune United and he will be observing and speaking with their technical teams about how they do things.

Speaking to thepost yesterday, Mothobi said there is always something to learn in football and the learning can happen anywhere.

After guiding ‘Tse Putsoa’ to their 11th title last season and consequently qualifying for the CAF Champions League, Mothobi is eager to get himself ready and gain as much knowledge as possible before tackling Africa’s premier club competition. Mothobi said his plan was to also spend time at Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns but, because of time constraints, that will not be possible. With Matlama returning to preseason training in the coming days, Mothobi said he cannot just take ten days off.

“There is always something to learn and you can learn anywhere,” Mothobi said. “I can go to Likhopo and do this but it is just that you cannot only learn from your competitors. This trip is for me to observe how they do their coaching and many things. I am going to have conversations on how they do things and see how they deal and solve the challenges they come across,” he added.

“Of course with the Champions League coming I wanted to go to these big teams and learn from them, but we are also returning for training and I have to be there for the sessions, I cannot not be away for ten days.”

Mothobi has not coached in the Champions League before and Matlama have roped in former Lesotho coach Moses Maliehe to come in and help the club with his experience and qualifications. Maliehe, who also coached ‘Tse Putsoa’ in the past, will sit on Matlama’s bench during the competition as one of the club’s coaches.

It is required by CAF that coaches must hold a CAF A Licence qualification to coach in its continental competitions. However, this will not affect Mothobi’s future in the club and he will continue as Matlama coach after penning a new two-year deal this month.

Matlama’s Champions League campaign will be Mothobi’s first test on the continent and it is one that he said he is excited about and looking forward to.

Learning from the likes of Orlando Pirates may do Mothobi loads of good as Pirates were just in the CAF Confederations Cup final in May where they lost on penalties to Tunisian side RS Berkane. At Sekhukhune United, Mothobi is set to be welcomed by the familiar face of Thabo Senong who was Likuena’s head coach for two years before leaving last year to take up a role of assistant coach at the South African top-flight club.

Trips like this are popular amongst coaches from developing countries who get a chance to visit clubs that are far more advanced in football to learn from.

Tlalane Phahla