Nico�s Sunday comes out of retirement
Koketso Kgoboge | Wednesday August 30, 2017 16:18
After he retired at the end of the 2014/2015 season, Kelebale was roped in as the team’s assistant coach. He will continue serving in that position but as a player coach under Peter Muchina. The 36-year-old confirmed his return. He said his intention is to help guide the young Majombolo players on the field as they mount a challenge for a Premiership return.
“We have recruited a very young team during the off-season and I figured they will need guidance on the field hence I decided to come back,” Kelebale said.
“The team is not that bad; the boys are showing a lot of commitment. Our mission is to return to the Premiership and I am looking forward to helping the team achieve that dream,” he added.
Kelebale started his career as a striker at Queens Park Rangers back in 1997 in Mahalapye, his home village. He moved to Notwane in 1999 where he spent a season before joining Selebi-Phikwe Aces in 2001. In 2003, he crossed town to Majombolo and four years later he signed for Extension Gunners. He returned to Majombolo two seasons later in the 2010/2011 season.
At the twilight of his career, the towering Kelebale was converted from a striker to a defender for Majombolo before he hung up his boots in 2014/2015 season. He also received several call-ups from the national team both at the time he was a striker and also as a defender.
The financially challenged Majombolo have lost most of their key players to other sides following last season’s relegation. However, Nico managed to hold on to 12 players from last season and have beefed up the squad by bringing 13 more bodies in. Four players come from Satmos FC, a team that sunk to Division One. They signed two players each from Gunners of Khwai and Ramotswa’s Day Parks. Other players come from Division One sides such as Bobonong Stone Breakers, Santa Green, Mogorosi Rhinos and No Mathata, amongst others.
Club spokesperson, Mogomotsi ‘Ace’ Orapeleng said their new recruits are promising and have good experience in the lower leagues. He said playing for a brand such as Nico will motivate the young players to perform well.
“We don’t want to live beyond our means with big names we can’t afford,” he said. “We also appreciate that First Division North is a tough league and we will not have it easy.
“We are happy with our squad. They are self motivated and we believe they will do the job for us. We are ready to compete but it will be vital to have our supporters behind us both at home and away.”
The First Division North league starts this weekend.