Mikia Kalati
MOSHOLU ‘Shoes’ Mokhothu has made a dramatic return to Lioli as the assistant coach to newly appointed Lehlohonolo Thotanyana in the 2018/19 Premier League season.
Liphakoe last week announced that they had appointed the former league winning mentor as their new assistant coach ahead of the new season.
Mokhothu was last season part of the backroom staff at the Premier League’s new boys, Sefotha-fotha.
However, he got an irresistible offer from Lioli and immediately deserted the Quthing outfit.
Mokhotho confirmed that he had communicated with Lioli who gave him an offer that forced him to dump Liphakoe.
“I had taken the job at Liphakoe but I indicated to them that I needed to finalise some issues with Sefotha-fotha where I was working previously. However, while I was in that process, I received an offer which I could not turn down from Lioli.
“We have agreed in principle that I will be joining Lioli but we are yet to sign anything because I have been away but I expect everything to be finalised this week,” Mokhotho said.
Mokhothu has had several spells with Tse Nala and was part of the side when they ended their 24-year league drought in the 2008/09 season. He was also part of the coaching department when they won 2014/15 and the 2015/16 seasons before he stepped down as the technical director of the club.
Lioli are hoping to end bitter rivals’ Bantu’s dominance in recent seasons where it has won back to back titles under James Madidilane in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons.
Liphakoe general manager, Moeketsi Ramakatsa, confirmed that Mokhothu has left the club a few days after taking the job as their new assistant coach.
“We had engaged Ntate Mokhothu and we put everything on paper that is why we went public about it,” Ramakatsa said.
“However, we were later shocked to hear our president saying that the new coach would no longer work with us.”
For his part, Lioli president Lebohang Thotanyana was non-committal to a confirmation but said his club would make announcements if there were any new announcements.
“We do not have any announcements at the moment but when we have we will go public,” Thotanyana said.
The Lioli president also denied reports that veteran midfielder, Motlalepula Mofolo, would come out of retirement and play for the side in the 2018/19 season.
Lioli fans made a serious uproar when the club released the veteran midfielder following the appointment of Morena Ramoreboli as the coach in the second round of the 2017/18 season.
Ramoreboli has since been replaced by former Lesotho Football Association technical director, Thotanyana, who reportedly is keen to have Mofolo back in fold along with defender, Shetsane Ramoseka.
The club had previously announced that Ramoseka would be retiring.
“All that is being said is just speculation as we have not announced anything. We do not know where it is coming. If there are any announcements will make those in due course,” Thotanyana said.
