Lebohang Mokoena’s future in soccer
Although many fans believe that Lebohang Mokoena, the former Oplando Fire midfielder, has already left the team, there is some news that contradicts this. The player has not played professional football since the end of the 2021/22 season. Born in Soweto, the player, affectionately known as “Cheese”, was a member of the young generation of Pirates players in the early 2000s, who were feared by their rivals.
The player’s star path
Mokoena made his debut for Soweto Giants in 2003 when he was 17 years old. In the following season (2004/05) at the best soccer betting sites, his efforts were recognised with the club’s Player of the Year award. As such, he was promoted to the Orlando Fire senior team the following season.
Mokoena, who is known for his speed and dribbling, has played just under 100 matches for the Pirates. During his career with the club, he also featured in Football Manager 2006, a football management simulation video game released in North America.
In 2009, Mamelodi Sundowns from Pretoria received a right-back and a striker. After leaving the Masandavans, Mokoena signed a contract with the Cape Town Spurs (formerly known as Ajax Cape Town). In 2018, he became a member of Moroka Swallows.
Not many footballers in the country can boast of having participated in international competitions. Nevertheless, Mokuana started playing in the under-17s (14 matches), under-20s (2 matches) and by the age of 23 was a regular player and one of the national team’s top scorers.
Why did his career end?
Mokuena lost his wife, Masente, to whom he had been married for eight years, in 2023.
Speaking on the Prime Sports With Mahlatse sports show last year, he said that his wife died during childbirth. They have four children.
“She’s very much missed and I’m in counselling right now because I need it and that’s why I decided to take a break from football to try and deal with my kids”.
Mokuen has already started working on a new chapter in his life, although he has not yet retired. In December 2023, he told Soccer Laduma that he had completed the Safa D-Licence coaching course.
Mokoena also said that he wants to continue his charity work by setting up his own foundation to help poor students.
