Notsi eyes Shai for Likuena stardom

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – Likuena coach Leslie Notsi has tipped Kaizer Chiefs Under-19 starlet, Tumelo Shai, as Likuena’s future star. Shai, 18, has been called up to the Lesotho senior national team friendly games against Mozambique’s Os Mambas and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana last Saturday and on Wednesday this week, respectively. The Lesotho born youngster came on as a substitute against Os Mambas, where Likuena lost 2-0 through an own goal and a penalty. However, Shai did not get a run against Bafana Bafana in a goalless draw at Lucas Moripe Stadium.      

“Talking about Tumelo Shai, looking at his level where he is playing and his capability, you could see that he is going to be Lesotho’s future player, and it was good for us to know (about him) and give him the opportunity,” said Notsi during an online press conference from Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday this week.

Notsi said they did not call-up Shai just because he’s playing for a big club like Chiefs, but because he deserved to be called up. “It was not because of a team he is playing for. We did not give him a call-up because of that. “I spoke to Kaizer Chiefs coach Cavin Johnson and his immediate coaches within the team who confirmed his potential and indeed he proved himself (against Os Mambas).

“He is a player who you can say in the next two years he will be one of the key players for the national team.” Shai, who is said to have come from Qomoqomong in Quthing, represented Wits Juniors before liking up to Chiefs development set-up. He is currently playing for Kaizer Chiefs’ Under-19 team.