By: Sekonyela Qaitsane
Maseru – As Matlama FC continues to refresh their aging squad, the Maseru-based giants are believed to have identified a long-term successor for club legend Phafa Tšosane.
Tšosane has spent almost his entire football career at ‘Tse Putsoa’, forming a formidable partnership with Jane Thabants’o over the years, and is considered one of the best players to have graced the football pitch in Lesotho.
He is still expected to play an important role in the coming season, where Matlama will likely go all out for the title after losing it to Lioli FC on the final day of last season.
However, Matlama’s relience on their star attacking midfielder is gradually coming to an end as the age is no longer on his side. He will be 38 next year, and the sooner the better for the club to prepare and secure his successor.
Informative Newspaper has it on good authority that the club has earmarked Majantja’s towering box-to-box star midfielder Limpho Motanya as Ts’osane’s long-term replacement.
The 24-year-old played an enormous role in helping Majantja secure promotion into the Premiership last season. The player nicknamed “Skopo” was named Majantja’s player of the season at the club awards last month.
Despite featuring mostly as a number 8, he scored a total of six league goals from the middle of the park and was the club’s second top goal scorer behind Moriana Moriana.
In total, Motanya scored 11 goals, including four in the Nedbank Cup and a long-range winning goal versus Mzamane in the Champ of Champions final last month at the Bambatha Sports Arena, thereby leading Majantja to a double.
Although not as skilled as Ts’osane, Motanya possesses plenty of similarities to the 38-year-old: a high work rate, pinpoint passes, and precision in long-range shots. With his height, he enjoys an aerial advantage against most of his opponents. He also helps the team mostly recover possession.
Speaking to the Informative Newspaper, Motanya was coy to divulge but did not play down the talk. He, however, makes it clear that he still wants to play for Majantja. At least for one more season in the top flight before moving to another club.
He reiterates that he wants to repay the club for showing faith in him throughout his five-year stay at the club. His dream is to pursue his career beyond the borders of Lesotho.