Lehlohonolo Seema, the former coach of Sekhukhune United, expressed his dissatisfaction on his abrupt departure from the club despite impressive results.
Seema joined the club in November 2023 after leaving Polokwane City and found Sekhukhune United struggling with relegation.
Under his leadership, the team experienced a remarkable turnaround, maintaining an undefeated record at home and achieving a fourth-place finish in the league, the highest in the club’s history.
Despite this success, the 44-year-old was unexpectedly placed on special leave with two games remaining in the 2023/24 season.
Speaking with Hollywoodbets brand ambassador Robert Marawa on 947 the former Bloemfontein Celtic player conveyed his discontent with the board’s decision to relieve him from his duties, indicating that his sacking was not related to the team’s performance on the field.
“They count the results at Sekhukhune, and I will say the count because I was forever appreciated in every game being a lost, draw or won,” Seema said on 947.
“I don’t think it’s the results if you look at where the club was, what happened, and how we were playing. It’s only two games that I was not there (failed to win) and ever since I arrived, we never lost a game at home.
“We lost one game, it’s one of the two games that I was already on suspension, we lost to AmaZulu at home.”
“This one came as a bit of a surprise, shock. I believe that it’s obvious it wasn’t about the results.
“It’s something that happened in the boardroom and it’s something that I think we as the club and me also, both wish we could have handled in a different way.”
Seema further disclosed that the misunderstanding leading to his departure from Sekhukhune might have stemmed from something said during a boardroom meeting.
This possible miscommunication between him and CEO Jonas Malatji seemed to have played a substantial role in the decision to place him on special leave.
“There were no high tempers in a boardroom, but you can interpret things in a different way. And sometimes talking calmly as I am you might think otherwise when you are alone.
“This guy when he says this what does it mean? Unfortunately, the hierarchy of the team had made a decision and I had to abide by the decision.
“But it wasn’t about the results at all. I was not happy (sacking), I was still even doing the meetings with the technical team about who to bring in.
“Everything was okay and it was just unfortunate that the meeting happened and after that, I was gone.
“But I can tell you I wasn’t happy, and I was shocked, surprised but I had to accept it.”
The Lesotho-born coach also shared that he made an effort to reach out to the CEO of Sekhukhune United to apologise for any misunderstandings. This gesture helped them reconcile, and they were able to make peace with each other despite the abrupt end to his tenure at the club.
“I wasn’t with the chairman, I was with the CEO (Jonas Malatji). I even apologised to him after that when I found out how he felt.
“Maybe the disrespect, how I spoke to him. I still talk with the CEO I apologised and he also apologised, so we are good.
“But at that moment I was not aware that maybe I was making to feel disrespected.”
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