Chris Theko
Kick4Life has lost its key player in Khubetsoana Kamela who has joined the police force and begun training last week Monday.
Traditionally, premier league players who become members of the security agencies never get to enjoy their civilian soccer days but are forced by circumstances to play for forces teams.
Because of the country’s soccer status as yet-to-become fully professional, most players stick with the game as a pass-time hobby while awaiting a big career break.
Kamela is one of the over-200 police recruits who recently joined the force and will be subjected to training for six months. He is one of a number of Premier League players who made the cut to be new police officers.
Other players include Lebohang Pitso from FC Likhopo, Relebohile Makepe, brother to Likuena captain Basia Makepe, from CCX and Kefuoe Mahula a former Matlama midfielder who was already in Lesotho Mounted Police Services (LMPS) books having signed with the team at the beginning of the 2020/21 season.
Kamela, the former national Under-20 player becomes the second key player to leave Kick4Life in search for greener pastures in the security forces team in less than a year after Bonang Mohapi who joined Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) FC having enrolled into the force.
The skillful Kamela had become an integral part of Kick4Life’s first team since joining the club in 2017 from Galaxy.
Having joined the team ahead of the current Vodacom Premier League (VPL) season, Kick4Life coach Motebang Makhetha, admitted that the departure of the midfielder is a huge loss to his team.
“His presence in the team will be missed and yes it is a big loss for me as coach and the whole team,” Makhetha said.
“Missing a player of Kamela’s caliber leaves a huge gap however this presents a chance for other players to step up but also a huge task for us to find his replacement,” he stressed.
He, however, did not shy away from congratulating Kamela on securing a permanent and pensionable job.
Often when players join the police training, they end up playing for the police side, LMPS FC as is the case with LDF FC the military side.
Meanwhile, five key Bantu players Thabiso Lichaba (Goalkeeper), Hlompho Kalake, Lehlohonolo Fothoane, Thabo Lesaoana and Tau Masiu (Midfielders) did not make the final cut of the police force.
It was a huge sigh of relief for Bantu FC coach Bob Mafoso who’s five players had applied to train as police officers but unfortunately failed to make it to the final list of selected police trainees.
Mafoso expressed his relief at getting a chance to once again keep his best five, saying that no coach wants to lose their best players.
“I am happy that they are still here, although we had already started planning for life without them, he said.Â
He said as sad as it is that the players could not secure a life-time job opportunity, they still have contracts with Bantu.
“It is sad that they lost such an opportunity and unfortunately nothing can be done about it. They were hoping to leave and it did not happen however they still have contracts with Bantu, he added.
