Newly-signed Gaborone United (GU) goalkeeper, Noah Maposa, believes that joining the ambitious city giants will help him grow as a player and says he hopes to help the club win some silverware during the 2011-2012 football season.
The talented custodian said this shortly after he was presented to the journalists at the club’s offices in Gaborone on Friday morning.
Maposa was revealed alongside six other new players, including Alphonse Modisaotsile (TAFIC), Bakang Moeng (Uniao Flamengo Santos), Thato Ramatebele (Notwane), Gaopatwe Seosenyeng (Township Rollers), Baloni Chiseko (Simba Stars, Zimbabwe), Botsalo Oatlhotse (Gantsi Terrors). The Reds have been chasing the talented national team second-choice goalkeeper for sometime but finally landed him last month after his contract with Mochudi Centre Chiefs expired.
The move came as a shock to most of Chiefs supporters and it did not come as a surprise when some of the Kgatleng giants’ officials claimed that he still belongs to them.
But on Friday, Maposa said that he has long decided that he needs a new challenge for him to grow as a player.
Maposa joined Magosi in 1999 and has been committed to the club since then, though he had stints with Blue Waters (Namibia) and South African first division outfit Bay United in between.
“There is nobody who can tell me that I’ve not been committed to Chiefs all these years. I was disappointed when my contract expired and nobody from the club said anything. They only approached me after they heard that GU was interested in my services but by then I had already made a decision to move on,” said Maposa.
He added that maybe Chiefs did not value him anymore hence their decision not to make him an improved offer but says he holds no grudges against the Kgatleng outfit.
“I grew up at Chiefs and the club will always remain close to my heart. It’s only that in life when you grow up, there are challenges we face. I have a family to feed hence I decided to join GU,” he continued.
Maposa promised the Reds supporters that he is going to work extra-hard to improve his game and help bring happiness to the club.
GU has not won any silverware since 2009 when they became the first side to win P1m prize money in the revamped Premier League. The past seasons have seen GU’s performance declining hence their decision to bring in new faces.
Though Maposa is expected to be the first choice goalkeeper, he will face tough competition from Reuben Thakadu.
Maposa pleaded with Chiefs supporters to understand his departure.
“In life we meet to part. They (Chiefs supporters) have to bear with me because they treated me like their son but I had to move on,” he said.
Maposa is expected to make his debut for the Reds when they face Nico United in the league opener at the Molepolole Sports Stadium on Saturday evening.
Speaking at the press conference, GU secretary Hebert Letsebe said that bringing in new faces to the club would help his side to strongly compete in the coming season.
“We’re an ambitious club that wants to excel hence we have recruited these players. We want to send a message to other clubs (that we want to compete). We’re not done (in signing) because very soon we’ll be introducing one or two players,” he concluded.
