His convalescence dragged on, but that’s it, Lebo Mothiba is once again a full-fledged football player. The striker, with the eternal smile even under the mask, had played his last professional competitive match on February 29, 2020, already in Montpellier (the last Ligue 1 match of Racing during the 2019-2020 season, stopped by the coronavirus pandemic). 673 days later, after almost two years of interminable waiting, he played a quarter of an hour this Sunday at the Mosson stadium in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France.
A sporting renaissance
After this long Stations of the Cross to heal his recalcitrant knee, Lebo Mothiba felt a real deliverance this Sunday: “I’m very, very happy. It was very, very long. But I was patient, I kept working and believing in myself. It’s a rebirth. People are going to see a new Lebo, not the old “.
If it is obviously far from being at 100% of its capacities and if it logically lacks rhythm, Lebo Mothiba no longer feels physical pain. “I feel beautiful, nickel, he explains. It’s just in duels from time to time that I’m afraid, it’s the game. But on the races, the passes, the strikes, I feel good ”.
One more solution in attack
Like his teammates, Dimitri Liénard is delighted with the return of Lebo Mothiba, who could scratch some playing time this January, as striker Habib Diallo play the African Cup of Nations with Senegal. “I hope that he will bring us all his know-how, that is to say take the depth, explains the captain of Racing. He’s another type of attacker that we don’t have. I’m happy for him, even though the job isn’t done. He must not give up, he must work to find the rhythm “.
And soon a goal?
The South African now dreams of shaking the nets again. “I promise I’ll give it my all on the pitch, Lebo Mothiba smiles. I’m hungry for the ball and goals. I am patient, over time it will come “.
The Bafana Bafana has not scored with Racing since December 7, 2019, it was at La Meinau opposite Toulouse (victory 4 to 2).