Teya-teyaneng businessmen Lebona Lephema and Tšeliso Nthane have each pledged M150 000 to reward Lioli for winning the Vodacom Premier League title. The money is a gift the players will share for bringing a first title to Teya-Teyaneng (TY) since 2016 and was part of lavish and emotional celebrations that erupted in TY on Saturday when Lioli edged arch-rivals Matlama to lift the Vodacom Premiership.
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An outpouring of emotion engulfed the pitch and the stands.
On one side hand, it was ‘Tse Nala’ head coach Motheo Mohapi celebrating his first league triumph as a coach after almost two decades of close misses.
On the other, it was Lioli’s long-suffering supporters exorcising years of pain after watching their beloved club hit rock-bottom in recent times, both on and off the field.
Just last year, Lioli finished a lowly eighth in the league and it was the fifth season in a row ‘Tse Nala’ had missed a top four place.
There were similarly low moments off the field, the highest profile being a payment quarrel with former player Thato Sefoli that resulted in football’s world governing body, FIFA, ordering Lioli to pay him M73 000 in 2022.
A league title victory appeared a far-fetched dream in the midst of all that mess.
Lioli chopped and changed coaches constantly and really only stumbled on Mohapi after he surprisingly left Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) at the end of last season.
Because of their constant turnover of coaches and lowered expectations, Lioli’s management gave Mohapi a one-year deal that would run until the end of this season.
Halemakale Mahlaha, Motebang Makhetha, Morena Ramorebodi, Lehlohonolo Thotanyana, Thabile Secker, Themba Tshabalala, and Bob Mafoso had all coached Lioli since their last league win in 2016, so the club’s hierarchy just wanted to see how it went with Mohapi who took over so late that he missed Lioli’s first game of the season and watched from the stands.
Mohapi was not able to bring his own players because the transfer window was closed.
He had no benefit of a pre-season and had to work with what he found.
Mohapi achieved that with aplomb, transforming Lioli through his tactical acumen and leadership while making the players better.
Previous coaches always complained about a toxic dressing room and player power at Lioli but Mohapi, who is in the army by profession, is a well-known disciplinarian.
He prioritised discipline and the players immediately fell in line as soon as he arrived.
The only guitar they danced to was his. In return, he allowed the players to have fun.
That is how the coach and his players built a relationship that produced one of the most improbable success stories in recent years.
Lioli and Matlama went toe to toe all season.
They ended the campaign with similar statistics. Both lost just twice and won 20 and 19 games respectively.
For Lioli, their 1-1 draw with Matlama at Bambatha Tšita back in January was the moment ‘Tse Nala’ supporters started to believe they could win the league.
Matlama, the league leaders at the time, threw everything at their rivals but Lioli’s players stuck to the game-plan and took a valuable point back to Teya-Teyaneng.
That result was ultimately the difference in the title race because Lioli finished two points ahead of Matlama.
Mohapi, meanwhile, was exorcising demons of his own.
Last season he nearly won the league but his LDF side crumbled towards the finish line and, after leading the log in April, they ended up finishing third.
Mohapi said the first thing he had to do with Lioli was study his new team’s strengths and weaknesses.
He brought the players together to make sure they understood they are a team on the field and that “they must cover each other and fight for one another.”
Because he had to rebuild the team’s mentality from scratch, Mohapi admitted the players’ response was not immediate “but when they (finally) gelled together, they were amazing.”
“When giving instructions, some players will feel like they are hated while others will understand what you are trying to change,” Mohapi said.
“But, at the end of the day, all of them will realise that what you are doing is pushing them to do better in whatever they are doing.”
One of the players that stood out for Lioli this season is midfielder Sihle Maso who was speechless at the end of his side’s title winning effort against Matlama.
He credited Mohapi and the club’s vociferous supporters for pushing the players all season.
“I am speechless,” a beaming Maso said.
“I don’t even know which words to say to show my appreciation to my teammates and coach Mohapi,” he added.
“All I can say is that I am so happy and proud of us. We are also very thankful to our supporters who kept faith in us. I highly appreciate their presence that always uplifts our spirit.”
Lioli’s main sponsor, Alliance Insurance, was equally ecstatic.
They gave ‘Tse Nala’ a cow that is set to be slaughtered during Lioli’s title party at a date to be announced.
After almost 10 years of trying, Lioli will finally celebrate the sweet taste of winning a seventh league title.
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