…as he gives an update on Setsoto Stadium
By: Sekonyela Qaitsane
Maseru – The relationship between the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) and the government of Lesotho has gone from bad to worse in recent times, as marked by a number of infamous incidents that have gone public.
The victim has been the association, judging by the comments by the leadership of the local football governing body on numerous occasions, calling the government out for lack of support towards the national football team and other football development activities.
Speaking to the journalists in a press conference towards the end of June, LeFA president Adv. Salemane Phafane lamented the government of Lesotho for failing to upgrade Setsoto Stadium on time. Phafane was also furious over the fact that the ministry was not supportive of the expenses of the national team playing home games in South Africa, leaving the association to incur all the expensive costs of traveling and using foreign facilities.
In the same month, but in a separate incident, the association returned a donation of T-shirts and sweaters to the ministry, citing that the items were not te requested items to an extent. According to LeFA secretary general Mokhosi Mohapi, 35 items were delivered instead of 50. Also, he said they would have loved the items to come printed association logos.
Speaking at the Vodacom Premier League Awards last Friday, Prime Minister Sam Matekane made a brief but stern appeal to Adv. Phafane to cooperate and handle differences better.
“The president of LeFA, adv. Salemane Phafane, let us work together. Where things do not go accordingly, let us communicate,” pleaded Matekane.
However, Matekane did not go into details of how the government intends to do things better in support of the association in terms of a sound budget allocation going forward. He turned his focus to the update of Setsoto Stadium, highlighting that the government has put aside a budget, particularly for the completion of the stadium upgrade, and that he has ordered the ministers of sports and finance to move things faster. He assured Basotho that soon the project would be completed, and they should be able to support their national team from home.