Three year contract for Likatola coach

Chris Theko 

The Senior National men’s rugby team, Likatola, coach Realeboha Segoete’s contract has been renewed by a further three years by the Federation of Lesotho Rugby (FLR) after it expired last month.

In September 2019 Segoete was appointed coach on a one-year contract thereby succeeding Roy Nyasha.

Both Segoete and Nyasha previously worked as assistant coaches to Ranga ‘Bobo’ Chimombe, who coached the team from 2014 to 2016.

Segoete’s mandate was disrupted by the abrupt eruption of the covid-19 pandemic which sent the whole world into pause mode, halting every social activity including sports. This then meant that for the most part of his contract’s stretch, his charges had no game time. 

Likatola was last on the international scene in 2018 during the Four Nations Africa Cup in Ghana.

FLR Secretary-General Litšitso Motšeremeli told Newsday Sports that Segoete’s contract ended and the association resolved to renew it.

“When his contract expired we realized he did not get enough time to work or even take part in any match as the coach so we felt it would be unfair to not renew his contract.  We want to give him another chance because Covid-19 denied him a chance to prove himself,” MotÅ¡eremeli said.

He added that they are also considering to give him a three-year contract.

“On top of that we have decided to give him three to five years contract,” he added. 

MotÅ¡eremeli said there is no straight mandate but they would want to see the team improve in performance and standings in Africa. 

Had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic, Segoete’s first international test could have been this year’s Rugby Africa Cup which was scheduled for the third week of May. It was however, suspended indefinitely.

Segoete retired from competitive rugby in 2018. He holds a Level 1 Rugby Coaching Licence and is also a World Rugby recognised referees’ educator.

For his part he said that he was still warming up to the decision of the association to give him another chance and said he was ready to grab the opportunity.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity once again to prove myself and I’m still getting used to the idea, it is overwhelming,” he said.