MASERU-Influential Matlama midfielder Mabuti Potloane is close to extending his deal with the Premier League giants and the club is confident the Lesotho international will put pen to paper by the end of the week.
Potloane’s contract with Matlama expired on June 30 and the club was already locked in contract negotiations with the playmaker before his contract ended.
Matlama Social Media Marketing officer, Themba Talane, said there is confidence within the club that Potloane’s contract will be resolved soon.
The club has already announced new contracts for goalkeeper Monaheng Ramalefane and midfielder Teboho Lillane and both players have signed two-year deals.
The 2018 champions also confirmed the arrivals of two new signings with Mohau Rammoneng joining from Lioli and Thabo Matšoele moving from Liphakoe on one-year deals.
Talane said the club wants to keep Potloane because he is one of Matlama’s best players and is a very influential figure in the dressing room.
“We have been in talks with him and I believe by the end of this week we will announce something, we are confident he will sign a new contract,” Talane said.
“He played a key role when we won the league, even this past season we finished second (and) he was very important to us. He is a hard worker and we want to keep a player like that,” he said.
Matlama failed to defend their title this season and finished 16 points behind Bantu who have been crowned champions for this season. Talane continued that the club is in the process of renewing more contracts for their players and bringing in more signings.
So far, Matlama have released Thapelo Tale and Kananelo Makhooane whose contracts expired. Lekhanya Lekhanya and Reitumetse Linkoane, meanwhile, had their contracts terminated by mutual consent
All four players have received their clearances and are free to join a club of their choice. Assistant coach Mosito Matela has also been shown the door.
Tlalane Phahla