Majantja legends and Mohale’s Hoek born ex-players pledged to support the team’s current players.
The legends of the game made the pledge during Majantja’s Family Day event which was held at the Mohale’s Hoek DiFA Stadium last Sunday.
Thabo Mafoso, one of Majantja ex-players, announced the pledge in the presence of the football-loving crowd who came to support the club’s Family Day event.
“We sat down as Majantja former players to deliberate on how we can support the current players and decided to start a monthly contribution scheme of M50,” said Mafoso in an interview.
“We found it necessary to do something for the team, knowing the challenges they have, especially the players.”
Mafoso said they were about 60 ex-players when they agreed about the contribution scheme.
He said would be working directly with Majantja coach, Bafokeng Mohapi, to ensure that the scheme would benefit the players.
Majantja are currently on top of the 10-team A Division South Stream log table with 21 points from nine matches.
“We want to give them support because they are currently doing well and stand a chance to win promotion back to the Premier League,” Mafoso said.
He said they would not interfere with the club committee’s everyday jobs.
“We are not going to interfere with the committee’s duties. The committee will continue with its usual operations and budgets, and we will come on board when there are challenges.”
Mafoso said players’ transportation is one of the challenges.
Speaking at the same event, Bantu coach Atang ‘Bob’ Mafoso, who is also from Mohale’s Hoek, commended Majantja ex-players for the initiative.
But Mafoso, who is also the senior national team (Likuena) assistant coach, warned the legends not interfere with the coach’s job.
“Your contribution as the legends to the players should be to help the players to become better players and not to coach Majantja,” said Mafoso
“But let us support the current coaches in helping these players as individuals.”
Mafoso said the players would always be under pressure because they were expected to deliver.
“To our players, you have pressure than anybody.
“(For example), we are not expected to have an A Division team with a facility like this (DiFA Mohale’s Hoek Stadium) in our district,” he said.
Mafoso said the current Majantja players must consider themselves lucky to play for one of the big teams in the country.
“You have got the opportunity to play for this big team like Majantja, amongst other players, and (as a result) you have pressure to win promotion (back) to the Premier League.”
Mafoso also appealed to Majantja players to be coachable. “Let us be coachable. You become a better player by listening.
“Respect your coaches and supporters. Remember that you have Majantja’s badge and so do everything responsibly.”
Benny Molapo, who is one of Majantja’s legends, said Majantja players must work hard to win promotion back to the Premier League.
“Guys you have done nothing up to now. Don’t be too proud of yourselves now because Majantja are currently leading the A Division log table,” said Molapo.
“We are expecting you to be the champions who take Majantja to the Premier League and not to be relegated in the next year.”
Majantja Vice President, Phomolo Mantutle, said the event gave them hope that their problems would be a thing of the past.
“We are very proud as Majantja administration with today’s function because it gives us hope that Majantja’s problems come to an end today,” said Mantutle.
“We were very worried for a very long time to realise that we had not been there for Majantja.”
Majantja were relegated to the A Division in 2018/2019 season.