The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) has announced a major financial boost for District Football Associations (DIFAs), doubling their annual subsidy from M100,000 to M200,000.
Described as a game-changer for football development across the country, the announcement was made by LeFA President Advocate Salemane Phafane during a media briefing held at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena on Wednesday, July 23.
Phafane revealed that the decision was approved by LeFA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) during a meeting held the previous night.
“Most of our DIFAs are struggling. Some are based in remote areas, while others are in urban zones with a high concentration of teams. It became clear to us that the previous allocation was inadequate,” said Phafane.
He explained that over the past three years, LeFA has been mobilising additional resources to strengthen district football structures. The new allocation brings the total annual budget for all 10 DIFAs to M2 million.
“This capital injection should bring change, not just for youth development but also for club administration. We’ve noticed that many clubs still struggle with basic football rules and administration,” Phafane added, underlining the importance of strong grassroots systems.
In a separate announcement, Phafane confirmed that Majantja FC head coach Bafokeng Mohapi has been appointed assistant coach of the senior national team, Likuena. He replaces Bob Mafoso, who stepped down to pursue a new coaching opportunity in Namibia.
A veteran tactician, Mohapi previously coached the national Under-20 team, the Makonayane XI. His appointment was recommended by LeFA Technical Director Caswell Moru and approved by the association’s Executive Committee.
Phafane said the national team’s technical structure will continue to be strengthened, following recent disappointing results at the COSAFA Cup.
“We were not happy with how the team performed, and we made that clear to Coach Notši. Poor performances will not be tolerated,” he said.
Likuena, who reached the COSAFA Cup final in 2023, have failed to progress beyond the group stages in the past two editions, raising concerns within LeFA and drawing criticism from supporters.
In another significant development, Phafane announced that all of Likuena’s upcoming home matches will now be played in South Africa’s Free State province. The decision is aimed at attracting larger Basotho crowds and improving team morale as the squad prepares to resume its 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Likuena will face South Africa in September, followed by a fixture against Benin later in the month. They will wrap up their qualification campaign with crucial home matches against continental giants Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
As LeFA pushes forward with its mission to professionalise and decentralise football development in Lesotho, the increased funding for DIFAs and national team restructuring reflect a renewed focus on accountability and performance at every level of the game.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
