Chris Theko
Lesotho international defender Bokang Sello has rejoined Bantu after a failed move to South African Dstv Premiership-side Golden Arrows earlier this month.
Sello had left the Mafeteng based outfit at the beginning of the season when he was set to sign with Chippa United along with fellow Bantu teammate Tsietsi Khooa.
While Khooa’s move was successful as he was signed by the club, Sello struggled to secure a place due to the foreign quota in the club where they had already reached their maximum number for non-South African players in their team.
The move was initially facilitated by Lehlohonolo Seema the then Chippa head coach. Seema was sacked by the Chillie boys as the team is affectionately known, in December and joined Black Leopards as assistant coach to Dylan Kerr.
However, Seema still recommended the 26-year-old player to Golden Arrows coach Mandla Ncikazi and there was anticipation of him being signed. The move did not materialize despite the player putting together an impressive display at the club and subsequently all required documentation.
Sources privy to the matter said that Sello missed out on the opportunity because the club had said they did not want a foreign player for that position.
Sello is an experienced left-back with 24 Caps for the Lesotho senior side Likuena. He represented the country in the recent fixtures of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Nigeria as well as back-to-back ties against Benin respectively.
A source inside Bantu had earlier told this publication that the club is not sure if the player will stick around in South Africa or come back home.
At this point it is hard to say whether he will want to get another opportunity in South Africa or come back home, but because he is still under our books should he come back he still has a place inside the team, the source had said then.
Meanwhile, Head Coach at A Matso Matebele, Bob Mafoso expressed his delight at having the player back at his disposal.
“The player is very experienced and had been an integral part of my squad so yes I’m happy to have him back,” Mafoso said.
“I had hoped he gets his opportunity to grow in the South African league but that was not to be however I am happy to have him,” he said.
Mafoso said the biggest challenge now is having a star-studded squad which he says is going to give him a headache when it comes to fielding the 11-man combination.
“A team that is made up of stars for every position is a team that brings the coach a headache when it comes to selection,” he said.
At the beginning of the season, Bantu signed a host of players that included Lebohang Sheleng, Kamogelo Wolf and Johannes Molapo who were roped in as replacements for Tsietsi Khooa and Bokang Sello who were bound to join Chippa United.
The coach explained that having a star-studded team is better than not having players completely.
“When you are a coach you want to have the best players at your disposal because top players never want to lose, for them it’s about winning all the time,” Mafoso said. ccen
