Bantu, the team to watch

Bantu are the team to watch this season, that much is clear after A Matšo Matebele’s massive recruitment drive during the off-season. In all seven players have been signed, heightening the already huge sense of expectation that always engulfs Mafeteng at this time of the year.

Lekhanya Lekhanya, Mokone Marabe and Thabiso Mohapi have all arrived from Likhopo. Tšoloane Mosakeng has been snatched from Majantja and Tefa Makhoane has been signed from Matlama.

The context of the signings is massive, as earth shaking maybe as Manchester City’s spending spree in England.

Lekhanya Lekhanya (left) in action for Likhopo last season

The signing of Lekhanya in particular represents a momentous signing. Arriving on a free, Lekhanya’s signing also represents the best piece of business this year.

The striker’s signing was made possible by a technicality that shook up Lesotho’s transfer market this winter. The bulk of players in the league were available on free transfers this off-season after the end of a three-year contract period that was introduced by the Premier League three years ago in an attempt to halt the incessant poaching of players by the so-called government teams – LCS and LDF in particular – who would offer jobs any player that caught their eye.

This year was the end of this ‘bond’ for those players that have with their clubs since 2008, so basically players were available to highest bidder.

In this open market Bantu, the rising financial power of Lesotho football, were always going to have an advantage. Bantu are perhaps the fastest growing team in Lesotho and in terms of sponsors have surpassed Lioli, although Tse Nala still receive more from their chief backer Alliance Insurance.

Bantu supporters in full cry

Anyway, this free-agency has allowed Bantu to lure Lekhanya from Likhopo on the cheap.  Lekhanya, 19, is arguably the best young player in Lesotho. He has everything required of a footballer in the modern game. He is physically well-built which alone at times stands him apart in a league where physical conditioning – whether by fault or design – is at a premium. He is fast and he’s skilful.

Lekhanya is a player that would certainly crack in a professional league, possibly even in Europe, if given the chance.

Whenever he gets the ball there is a sense of expectancy; this is the type of player he has developed into over the past 16 months.

So far this season he’s played on the left side of a front three for Bantu, a role similar to that which was made famous by Ronaldinho is his pomp Barca days and the one performed by David Villa today – and to a lesser extent by Samuel Eto’o during Inter Milan’s treble winning season.

Lekhanya however can play in a variety of positions and perhaps his best is behind the striker or in even the shadow 9 position that is so in vogue at the moment in world football, played by Lionel Messi and performed tutorially by Wayne Rooney in England’s 3-0 rout of Bulgaria last Friday.

As part of the Makoanyane XI side which qualified for the Caf African Youth Championship in South Africa earlier this year Lekhanya is one of the big hopes for Lesotho football.

Having represented Lesotho at all youth levels Mohapi and Marabe are not too shabby either while Mosakeng was a Likuena as recently as 2009.

Thabiso Mohapi

Mohapi, better known as Mathopa, has added more steel to Bantu’s midfield and his partnership with Mosakeng will be one of the most dominant in the league this season while Marabe adds more speed and cutting edge upfront.

The signings are part of an aggressive recruitment strategy Bantu have employed since their return to Vodacom Premier League in 2009. Tefo Maipato, Tlali Maile, Daniel Jousse and Mosiuoa Boseka have all arrived over the past 24 months.

You now have Maipato and Boseka skilfully pulling the strings in midfield, a brutally solid defensive unit led by captain Maile (supported by the ex-Lioli duo of Mohapi London Express Ntobo and Brown Brown Dash Makobe) and a top goalkeeper in Jousse.

Bantu coach Tsehla Lerotholi gives intsructions to Mosiuoa Boseka

It’s no wonder why there is so much hope in Mafeteng that this season will end their 16-year trophy drought and maybe even see Bantu’s first ever league title.

Bantu also won’t be lacking support from many neutrals thanks to the style of football that is slowly being engrained by coach Tšehla Lerotholi. Their only Achilles’ heels remain that inexperience when it comes to winning trophies (will Bantu crack under pressure?) and their Mafeteng home which is a very poor field.

For the next three games though Bantu will be confident securing the points to see them set the pace. Tomorrow they host Maduma before a match against struggling Matlama next weekend before they welcome LDF on the last weekend of the month.

After that it is the Independence Cup on the first weekend of October to look forward to for Bantu.

That’s just how it is for A Matšo Matebele, they are flying high again and Mafeteng seems poised to paint Lesotho black and gold very soon.