THE local football fraternity has just lost one of its legends, Seephephe ‘Mochini’ Matete who died over the weekend.

The former national team head coach served the football community in different portfolios over the years.

During his playing days, “Mochini” or “Number 10” was a star player for defending league champions, Matlama and Likuena.

In a statement released on Monday morning, the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) said: “It is with great sadness that LeFA informs the football fraternity of the passing away of its legendary player and coach Mr Seephephe Matete, who was affectionately known as ‘Mochini’ or number 10, a name that grew with him from his playing days.”

Matete is regarded as one of the greatest footballers to come out of Lesotho.

His football career also took him to South Africa, where he played professionally in the mines and later for Bloemfontein Celtic. 

He will also be remembered as the first coach to guide a national squad to a CAF competition when together with Lehlohonolo Thotanyana, he took the national U-20, Makoanyane XI to the 2005 African Youth Championship in Benin.