Maseru – James Madidilane, whose contract with Bantu is set to expire this month, has expressed his desire to continue coaching the team into the next season. The South African coach made his feelings known after Bantu’s recent 2-1 loss to rivals Matlama in a crucial Vodacom Premier League match at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.
“I would like to stay. I don’t want to lie,” said Madidilane in a post-match interview. “But I believe that is in the hands of Bantu management.”
Madidilane also hinted at having offers in South Africa but expressed his intention to stay with Bantu if possible. He emphasized that the decision ultimately lies with the team’s management, as his contract expires in May.
This comes after Madidilane, who rejoined Bantu at the beginning of this year on a six-month deal, expressed his belief that he could achieve better results with a full season to implement his strategies. He previously led Bantu to two league titles in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons.
Madidilane acknowledged that Bantu’s chances of clinching the 2023/24 league title were slim after the loss to Matlama, but he stressed that his team was not entirely out of the championship race. Bantu faces a critical challenge against Lioli in another significant league match this Saturday.
Despite the uncertainty, Madidilane expressed determination, stating, “We don’t know who will finish in second or third place. We will see, but one thing I can assure you is that we are going to strive to get nine points in our remaining matches.”
Bantu, currently in third place with 56 points, faces a tough battle to retain their title, with Matlama and Lioli jointly at the top of the league table with 61 points each.
