While most athletes tend to fail to create a balance between their varied talents and would rather focus on one discipline as they develop and grow, Motlatsi Maseela is one of the few who managed to nurture his diverse skills until he represented Lesotho in both football and athletics at well recognized international competitions.

Born in 1971, the talented athlete was bred in Maqhaka, Ha Majara in the Berea district. Maseela who is the third child of the late Enea Motlatsi (senior) and ’Mamotlatsi Maseela started playing football and running at the age of 10 as a learner at Leshoboro primary where he completed his primary education in 1984. He thereafter proceeded to Cenez Secondary where he completed his Junior Certificate in 1987. He was both a strong sprinter and a fine footballer – he went on to represent Cenez in the Lesotho Institutions of Sport Association (LISA) competitions.

In 1987, he went to Berea High School and finished his Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (COSC) the following year. He still made a name for himself in athletics and as a gifted football player at Berea even though the school itself was not a powerhouse in sports. While at high school, the versatile Maseela also played for his home team Maroala FC – the club played in the B Division. He remained with the team for the entire 1988 season before he joined the now-defunct premier league giants Arsenal FC in 1989 under the tutelage of the formidable late Styles Phumo.

Because he was a tyro in the star-studded side, Maseela spent four months on the bench but Phumo kept a watchful eye on him because he had seen raw talent in the youngster. His chance came when teammate Tumisang Posholi who played in the left-back position sustained a knee injury in a league game. 

Maseela did not waste that opportunity and from that day onwards, he earned a permanent place in Gunners’ line-up – he assisted the team to win the league in the 1989 season. His debut call up to the national squad was in 1990 with the national under-20 side Makoanyane XI and was shortly thereafter honoured with the squad’s armband.

As captain, he led the team to the 1990 COSAFA Under-20 cup hosted by Lesotho and they lost to Zimbabwe in the final. His first international match at club level was in 1990 against Denva Sundowns of Swaziland in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) champions’ league.

The same year, he was made Arsenal’s captain and served for four consecutive seasons on that capacity. He enrolled at the Lerotholi Polytechnic (Fokothi) in 1992 and graduated in 1994 with a Certificate in Bricklaying and Plastering, just before his reign as Arsenal’s skipper ended. After graduation, Maseela joined the institution as a volunteer instructor until he was eventually hired as a permanent staffer.

He represented Lesotho at the 1994 Commonwealth Games held in Canada competing in track and field events in 200 and 400 metre races.  His favourite player who stole his heart with incredible footballing skills was Zambia’s Happy Sichokolo who was a right-back during the 1990 COSAFA under-20 cup.

“I am right-footed but through dexterity, I played left-back and we kept challenging each other on counterattacks. He played the most impressive football and we ended up as good friends,” he recalls. The following year he was called to the senior national team Likuena  and he captained the side until 1998.

His coaching career started a long time ago as he first attended a coaching course while he was still with the Gunners in 1996 and acquired a Coaching Intermediate Certificate. He shortly thereafter began coaching Arsenal as an assistant to head coach Phumo.

In 1996, he represented Lesotho at the Atlanta Olympics held in Georgia in the United States of America. In Atlanta, Maseela competed against the then world fastest man Frankie Fredericks of Namibia. He was appointed FIFA Ambassador for SOS Corporation in Lesotho in 1998 and attended a Futuro II coaching course the same year.