…as ex-LMPS player returns to lead the team
Karabo Ramathe
Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) Football Club has officially welcomed back Halemakale Mahlaha, this time as head coach, marking a significant homecoming for the former player who once wore the team’s colours on the pitch.
Mahlaha’s appointment follows his recent suspension from Matlama FC towards the end of the 2024/25 season, where he had been serving as head coach. His return to LMPS, where he played during the 1998–1999 season, adds a deeply personal dimension to the new role.
Speaking at the unveiling, Mahlaha expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to lead the club that helped shape his football journey. He said the appointment came directly from the Commissioner of Police, Borotho Matsoso, who also serves as the team’s president.
“I played for LMPS FC between 1998 and 1999, so this team is close to my heart,” Mahlaha said during his official unveiling at the Police Headquarters this week.
“This is a big assignment from the Commissioner and I intend to carry it out with dedication. I will seek wisdom from God to lead this team with intelligence and discipline.”
Mahlaha brings with him not only experience but a profound connection to the club. His return is seen by many as a full-circle moment, coming back to where it all began, now tasked with rebuilding and elevating the very institution he once represented as a player.
He acknowledged the quality already present in the current LMPS FC squad, highlighting their experience in domestic football and national team exposure.
Mahlaha will hope to improve the fortunes of the side that finished seventh at the end of the 2024/2025 Vodacom Premier League season, while also challenging for some silverware during his tenure.
“The mandate is clear. We will see the rest unfold on the pitch and at the Police Training College where most of our training will take place,” he added.
His one-year contract, which covers the 2025–2026 seasons, comes after the resignation of the former head coach, Tiisetso Molete, just last week. Mahlaha will continue his duties with the national Under-20 men’s team, Makoanyane XI, while leading the LMPS.
Also present at the briefing, LMPS’s General Manager Toka Matseletsele emphasised that Mahlaha’s appointment is part of a broader mission to restore the team’s competitive edge and former prestige.
“As the executive committee, we are confident that under the new leadership, LMPS FC will regain its former glory. We encourage our supporters to come back and support us; we want them to enjoy football again,” Matseletsele said.
To bolster Mahlaha’s return, the club also revealed his technical support team. Itumeleng Galeboe Metso and Sheli Ramoseeka will serve as assistant coaches, while Selai Liphehlo takes on the role of goalkeeper coach.
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