No deal for Botswana international at Sekhukhune

Botswana international Lebogang Ditsele has left Sekhukhune without signing any deal with indications that he failed to meet the grade.

Babina Noko were running the rule over the Zebras midfield grafter since last week in a bid to speedily find a replacement for Willard Katsande, who has retired.

However, a source close to the player revealed that he had since returned to his Gaborone base after the club completed their assessments on him on Monday.

“They won’t be signing him judging by what they said to him. Maybe he’s not what they’re looking for, but he’s a good player – no doubt about that,” a source told FARPost.

Another source said: “The challenge was always going to be foreign nationals at the club.” The foreigners at the club include Edwin Gyimah, Badra Ali Sangare, Tresor Tshibwabwe, Toaster Nsabata, Roderick Kabwe and Chibuike Ohizu. PSL clubs are allowed to have five foreign players contracted at any point in time. 

Sekhukhune head coach Kaitano Tembo had a chance to look at the 26-year-old midfielder during a friendly match and some training sessions.

The talented linkman was instrumental for Botswana in the just-ended Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup 2022. His stellar display won him the Man of the Match accolade when Botswana faced The Pirates of Seychelles in the regional tournament.

Ditsele has won 34 caps for his national team, having made his debut in May 2014 during the Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Burundi.

When asked about the player on Monday afternoon, Tembo said: “Look, you know, in terms of looking for players in any team, there is no specific time that you will say you will stop looking for players. You are always on the lookout for players. That is why we have scouts out there looking for players who we feel are good enough to sign them.”

“So, in terms of that, we can’t really say that we are closed [on signing players] because there might be a certain position we might want to fill in. But we are not in a rush to do that.

“We had a look at him [Ditsele], and he also played a friendly. But we will make a decision on him when the time is right.”

However, Tembo seems to be happy with the current pivots in the team as he is aiming higher and improving the team ahead of the new campaign, and he said: “We are quite happy to work with what we have at the moment.”

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