Mofokeng awaits new Lioli offer

NTHAKO MAJORO
MASERU – Lioli FC Assistant Communications and Marketing Manager Motlatsi Mofokeng is out of contract with ‘Tse Nala’ although the club management has expressed interest to continue with his services.
Mofokeng joined Lioli in 2018 from Bantu FC on a three-year contract. His contract with Lioli has expired last Sunday. Public Eye has it on good authority that Lioli management was supposed to have a meeting with Mofokeng on Tuesday; it fell through for reasons not yet clear. Mofokeng could also not shed light on the reasons the meeting failed to take off, while speaking to this publication.
He said he could only guess that the officials were busy on the day as preparations for the transportation to South Africa and burial of the late team coach, Thomas Tshabalala, were in earnest – Tshabalala’s remains were collected from a mortuary in Maseru to his Bloemfontein home in the republic on the same day. But until yesterday, Mofokeng was still waiting to hear from the Lioli management. “There is still nothing official until today,” said Mofokeng in an interview with Public Eye yesterday.
He further said: “My contract with Lioli expired on January 31, and this means I am no longer contracted to the club and as a result I am free to join any team of my choice…which can afford my services,” he said. Contacted to shed light on the matter Lioli president, Lebohang Thotanyana, said “we are still in talks, and yes, he is still part of our plans.” Mofokeng said he gained a lot of experience in the past three seasons he has been part of the Lioli camp.
“To be honest, I have had a good time with Lioli. I have learned a lot from the good and the bad times during my stay at the club. To me it has been a valuable lesson, both professionally and in my personal life in general,” he indicated. Mofokeng said he had some challenges like it may be the case in any other job, challenges which he had to learn, adding that “most of the time the challenges I had were as a result of the nature of my job. It is true that there were clashes here and there but I understood those were part of the package.”
Mofokeng further said: “But all in all, Lioli were very important to me and my career.” Lioli dipped in form since Mofokeng joined them, and he said that resulted in him working under a lot of pressure almost always. “As a big team, a lot of pressure was when we lost. That’s where I got a lot pressure because I was the one expected to speak on behalf of the team.”
He is resolute, though, that he has no problems continuing to serve the Teyateyaneng outfit going forward if management renews his contract. Mofokeng began his career as Communications and Marketing Manager with Sefotha-fotha FC, which now campaigns in Lesotho’s top-flight league; they were then competing in the A-Division. He later moved to Mpharane Celtic, and then he joined Qoaling Highlanders and Bantu respectively before joining Lioli in 2018.