Newly crowned league champions Lioli say they will open talks with head coach Motheo Mohapi over a new contract soon. Lioli won the Vodacom Premier League last Saturday after beating rivals Matlama to the title. The league crown was secured with a 1-1 draw with Matlama in Teya-Teyaneng on the final day of the season and the triumph capped a remarkable job done by Mohapi since he took over as Lioli coach last September.
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Last season Lioli finished in eighth place, 26 points behind first place. Today, they are champions for the first time since 2016 and Mohapi has worked wonders to revive ‘Tse Nala’s fortunes and fan-base.
Mohapi’s one-year deal has come to an end and Lioli spokesperson, Kananelo Ramokoatsi said the club has not set a date for a meeting with the title-winning coach.
He said there are things management is busy with at the moment, but they intend to speak with the coach.
“At the moment there are things we are still busy with, but the management intends to sit down with him and we will see what happens, from those talks we will know what his intentions are,” Ramokoatsi said.
If the two sides can reach an agreement over a new deal, Mohapi will stay in Teya-Teyaneng to try to defend the title and possibly embark on the CAF Champions League journey as well.
Last Saturday while title celebrations were in full swing at the Lioli Stadium in TY, Mohapi spoke with reporters. He said whether he stays at ‘Tse Nala’ or not “depends on the club and their plans.”
Having gone through a series of coaches over the past six years without finding stability, Lioli may want to keep the former Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) tactician in-house.
Keeping Mohapi would bring stability they need, and by bringing in quality players, Lioli could again go head-to-head with their fiercest rivals — this season’s runners-up, Matlama, and third-placed Bantu.
Tlalane Phahla
