Chris Theko
The Confederation of School Sport Association in Southern Africa (Cossasa) ball games initially scheduled for September 1-6 2019 in Zambia have been cancelled following in-country conflicts.
The cancellation was confirmed by the Lesotho Institutions Sports Association (Lisa) Public Relations Officer, Teboho Pholo
Pholo said that Zambias withdrawal from hosting the games was due to internal matters.
South Africa is said to have shown interest in taking over the games, after Zambia pulled out. However, due to the limited time left; Cossasa decided that the games will not happen this year.
Pholo confirmed that, having hosted the games in 2017, Lesotho did not try to contest for the hosting rights thereafter, due to the fact that it (Lesotho) is currently facing financial challenges.
Lesotho’s next turn will be in 2021. According to him, the 2020 host country will be Botswana.
The initial plan for Lesotho had been to use the games to prepare for the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games, coming to Lesotho in 2020. Pholo admitted that this has been a huge blow for the country.
The blow comes after Lisa held their 2019 national ball games final, this past weekend at Lesotho High School, where the national team was selected for Cossasa games
Last week, the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) Public Relations Officer (PRO) Teboho Rakhomo stated that due to financial challenges, the commission is not able to go further across the country, into the districts to scout and groom talent for the 2020 games. Thus they relied on Lisa games for the overall realization of talent.
Lisa finals saw Thuto Ke Leseli High School crowned men soccer champions with Phuthiatsana High School securing second position. In the ladies section, Thetsane High School are the champions as they left position two to Makhethisa High School.
Mopholosi High School boys secured first podium stand in the netball competitions, with Eagles High School as runners-up. In ladies netball, Leqele High School ran riot to dominate the tournament and topped the campaign. Johnson Baker High School finished second.
Lithabaneng High School won volleyball men and women, leaving position two for St. James High School and Thaba- Tseka High School in men and ladies races respectively.
Apart from winning the ladies netball, Leqele High School also won the ladies basketball while the male category championship title was snatched by Masitise High School.
Masitise High School also took home the mens handball champions trophy. John Mount High School ladies were crowned handball champions.
