Sports

Mongoya says up for challenge

Published

2 years ago

September 6, 2022

MASERU – It has been over a month since Moeketsi Mongoya took over the reins as Bantu coach on a two-year deal.

With the Vodacom Premier League still not underway, the South Africa-born coach is yet to take charge of his first competitive game, but he has been hard at work preparing his team for the new season.

Mongoya permanently replaces fellow South African Thabo Tsutsulupa who was sacked in February four games into what was a six-month contract.

There has also been a huge South African success story at Bantu in the form of James Madidilane who stylishly led Bantu to league titles in 2017 and 2018 and gained a rare CAF Champions League triumph for Lesotho with a victory over Township Rollers of Botswana in 2018.

The bosses in Mafeteng have asked for a league title from Mongoya and he is aware wrestling the championship from Matlama will not be easy, especially with the likes of Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) gunning for the championship as well.

The former Orlando Pirates Reserves head coach, who also served as an assistant coach for Sekhukhune United and Chippa United in South Africa’s top-flight DSTV Premiership, is not fazed by the competition, however.

In fact, Mongoya said he is relishing the challenge ahead. In a sit-down interview with thepost on Sunday, the South African tactician spoke at length about his time in Mafeteng so far and his plans for ‘A Matšo Matebele’.

When you were contacted and offered the job, what made you get interested in it?

I think it was the potential the team has. I looked at the history of the team and the fact that they have played in the (CAF) Champions League before.

I was given a mandate to try to win the league so that the team can go back there (to the CAF Champions League).

The biggest factor was the love of football that Basotho have and their passion – there is no small game – it is a part of what brought me here. I am an ambitious individual that likes to win. I am very competitive, so when I heard the bosses speak, they were very ambitious.

How have you been settling in the country so far?

Off the field it was a bit challenging settling and adapting to the culture and the environment itself but the boys have made it easy. The club management has also helped us settle and make us feel at home.

On the field we are still studying the football here. We had the opportunity to watch the Alliance Winter Challenge (last weekend) and it was very competitive (with) Linare, Matlama, Lioli and (Lesotho Correctional Service).

All four teams were on top form and we have played against three of them except Linare. We have been following these teams but the only one we have not seen is (Lesotho Mounted Police Service), but already you get the impression that (LMPS) is very physical and competitive.

I got the opportunity to sit amongst the supporters to hear their language, the only thing they know is to win. Every team wants to dominate the space and that’s how we want to play. We want to dominate the game with the ball and without it, with the results coming as well.

The last permanent South African coach Bantu had was James Madidilane and he was very successful here. Do you feel pressure to emulate him?

The only pressure I am feeling is what I put on myself. We’ve got to respect what he has achieved and done, he has set the tone. He has also helped me settle by sharing his knowledge about football in Lesotho. I put myself under pressure because I am very competitive, I never settle for second best (or) mediocre.

I want to leave a mark. He has also left a mark. I want to leave a mark with a meaning because I am joining a team that is 93 years old this year. It’s a big thing, it is older than Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa. It is a team that is very big and must get to that level to be a continental team.

The most important thing is to help the boys grow and go back to having eight or nine players in the national team and also contribute to what the national team is doing.

There was a feeling from many people last season that Bantu needed a rebuild. What has been your impression since arriving?

It’s a very difficult task but I don’t want to be in the phase of rebuilding and not competing. The rebuilding part is to help the team sustain because if you look at the players like (Tšoanelo) Koetle, they have been with the team for a long time, but we’ve got to start planning for what happens if they leave for greener pastures.

What we want is to see them achieving something great. We want to see Bantu losing two or three players to greater leagues, but at the very same time we would like their experience and knowledge.

They know the culture of the team and we want them to share it with the younger players. That is why even the players we are signing, we made sure they are from Lesotho. We didn’t want to bring in a lot of foreigners and ruin the team, which would also affect the national team as well.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Ramakongoana off to World Athletics Championships

Published

21 hours ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

Lesotho Olympian Tebello Ramakongoana has booked a ticket to the 2025 World Athletics Championships after finishing second at the C&D Xiamen Marathon in China on Sunday.

Ramakongoana ran a brilliant race at the global event, and he finished in a Lesotho record time of 2:06:18 hours, just 12 seconds shy of first place.

Ethiopian Dawit Wolde secured title ahead of Ramakongoana in a time of 2:06:06.

Ramakongoana’s time has earned him automatic qualification to the World Championships set to be held in Tokyo in September this year and his performance in China took 1:40 minutes off the national record he set when he finished seventh at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

When speaking to local media, Ramakongoana’s American coach, James McKirdy, said the weather was warm but after 10 kilometres the sun appeared.

He said Ramakongoana ran a mostly strategic race with the focus to be amongst the front pack in the early stages of the race.

After 35km, the Olympian increased tempo and pushed the leading pack of 12 men that was a deciding point on who would make the podium.

From there the numbers in the leading group started to dwindle and with two kilometres to go, only four were in the running for podium places.

“(By) pushing hard, Tebello finished in 2:06:18 and earned 2nd place, both his time and his finishing position earned him the automatic standard for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo later this year,” McKirdy said.

“The Xiamen Marathon is an out and back course with moderate hills along the coast of China.

“Tebello’s time was also under the former course record and now sits as the second fastest time ever run for the event,” he continued.

The athlete is currently abroad in the United States where he is based and training.

He was Lesotho’s standout performer at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Ramakongoana finished fourth at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and he will hope to claim a medal at this year’s games scheduled to be held from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Ramalefane request unsettles Matlama

Published

21 hours ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

Matlama’s season, brimming with potential and promise, now teeters on the brink of unnecessary distraction due to the off-pitch antics of goalkeeper Monaheng Ramalefane.

His request to be released from his contract after losing his starting position to Leluma Mofoka has sparked a debate about professionalism, teamwork, and respect for contracts in football on social media.

Ramalefane’s behaviour should be a reminder that football is a team sport, not a platform for individual egos.

It is the timing of his letter as well that leaves a sour taste, with Matlama sitting atop the Vodacom Premier League and preparing for a crucial game against Majantja.

It’s a moment when the club needs unity, not controversy.

Yet, Ramalefane’s actions could undermine the club’s campaign.

What makes this scenario even more remarkable is Ramalefane’s history.

He once was the young shot-stopper, benching senior goalkeepers to become Matlama’s number one.

Now, with Mofoka in the ascendancy, Ramalefane appears unable to cope with the same competition he once thrived in.

Instead of embracing the challenge, he has chosen to walk away, which raises questions about his mentality and commitment.

Such behaviour is disappointing, not just for Matlama but for the broader Lesotho football community.

Ramalefane has been on the national team radar, with many believing he had the potential to be Likuena’s number one.

However, his antics, including skipping national team duties in the past, suggest a worrying trend of indiscipline.

Talent alone is not enough; discipline and a strong work ethic are equally important, qualities that Ramalefane seems to be lacking.

Matlama’s management need to act decisively to prevent his discontent from spreading within the squad.

Allowing such behaviour to go unchecked could set a bad precedent.

However, I do think this is an opportunity for the goalkeeper to reflect.

Rather than seeking an easy exit, perhaps he should consider the impact of his actions on his teammates and the supporters.

It would be best for him to put his head down, work hard, and earn back his spot.

With the fans, who have supported Matlama through thick and thin, he is unlikely to have many sympathisers on his side.

I think the fans would respect and love a player who fights for his place rather than one who demands special treatment when things don’t go their way.

Ultimately, this situation is a test for Matlama as a club and Ramalefane’s maturity as a professional.

Tlalane Phahla

Sports

Double header at Bambata

Published

21 hours ago

January 13, 2025

The Post

MASERU

The Vodacom Premier League resumes this weekend after the Christmas break, and football fans are gearing up for what should be an exciting second half of the season.

Five teams are in the race to claim the coveted premiership trophy and the exciting title chase has seen scores of football fans flock to the grounds this season.

What makes the league’s restart even more interesting is the open January transfer window, which adds another layer of excitement as enthusiasts follow along as clubs hustle to bolster their squads for the business end of the season.

On the field, the action gets underway on Saturday when the first double header of the New Year takes place at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.

The first encounter will see Bantu, who are currently third on the log standings, take on bottom side ACE Maseru.

Title-chasing Bantu have an opportunity to close the gap on leaders Matlama to just two points with a victory, and ‘A Matšo Matebele’ would still have a game in hand.

ACE Maseru, other the other, remain winless this season and are rooted to the bottom of the table with only three points from 12 games.

As things stand, the premiership debutants require a miraculous turnaround if they are to avoid a swift return to the second tier.

In the second game of the double header, defending champions Lioli will take on another relegation threatened outfit in 15th-placed Mzamane.

A win for the champions would bring them within a point of leaders Matlama.

Matlama, for their part, have a difficult away game against Majantja in Mohale’s Hoek on Sunday.

Majantja, 10th on the log with 14 points, are aiming to finish in the top eight.

For Matlama, the match is critical to maintaining their lead but they will need to dig deep to secure maximum points on the road.

Elsewhere, Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) will take on Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) in a rivalry clash at Ratjomose Ground on Saturday.

The match is vital for both teams for different reasons.

Third-placed LMPS, currently level on points with Bantu, need a win to keep pace in the title race while 9th-placed LCS are desperate to kick-start what has been a disappointing campaign by their standards.

Lifofane and Linare’s encounter in Butha-Buthe is another game to lookout for.

Struggling Linare, who are languishing in 11th-place, will hope to gain some momentum against a Lifofane side that is riding high in sixth place.

The patience of Linare fans is wearing thin and a win is imperative for ‘Tse Tala’ to retain their supporters’ trust.

Weekend fixtures:

Saturday 11th January
Lioli vs Mzamane (Bambatha 16:30) (Live on FIFA+)
LCS vs LMPS (Ratjomose 16:00) (Live on FIFA+)
Bantu vs ACE Maseru (Bambatha 14:00)
Manonyane vs Machokha (Nyakosoba 16:00)
Sunday 12th January
Majantja vs Matlama (Mohale’s Hoek 16:00)
LDF vs Liphakoe (Ratjomose 16:00)
Lifofane vs Linare (Butha-Buthe 16:00)
Lijabatho vs LU FC (Morija 16:00)

Tlalane Phahla