By: Sekonyela Qaitsane
Maseru – Despite a relatively underwhelming showing for Likuena at this year’s edition of COSAFA cup, a particular Likuena player seems to have done enough to score a deal beyond the country boarders.
Lesotho Correctional Services (LCS) has confirmed that their star defender Thabang Malane is set to depart the country and head to Namibian outfit African Stars FC on a two-year contract. The club briefly thanked the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) for affording their player a chance to showcase his talent on the international stage.
The speedy right back has been a regular figure in Likuena squad, making the position his own in recent years. He played an instrumental role on the recent back to back games for Likuena in world cup qualifiers as well as the Cosafa tournament. It was the Lesotho’s encounter with Namibia in COSAFA cup where he must have possibly done just enough to impress his suitors. Likuena lost 2-1 to their regional counterparts in a group-stage encounter where Malane was one of Likuena’s outstanding performers putting in a splendid shift from the right back down the right wing.
He joins a growing list of local stars that have crossed the border in the same fashion after fine displays in national team colors. The likes of Royal Am’s Motebang Sera in SA along with Katleho Makateng who has recently been released at Richards Bay earlier this month. The trio of former Bantu players Neo Mokhachane, Motlomelo Mkhwanazi and Bokang Sello are playing their trade in Botswana topflight after securing moves a year ago.
The African Stars Football Club are a professional Namibian football club from Windhoek. They play in the country’s highest division, the Namibia Premier Football League (NPL). They are the country’s second most successful club with 6 premiership tittles, 7 domestic cups and has also appeared in CAF competitions.
The NPL league was disbanded following the 2018–19 season. It was disbanded in 2020 after ongoing problems with the Namibia Football Association, which finally ended the relationship. The NFA founded the Namibia Football Premier League to replace it. The new league kicked off with the 2022/2023 season with African Stars against Unam at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium.