Lesotho’s national chess team is set to travel to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where it will represent the country at the 2026 Chess Olympiad, with the players aiming to test themselves against international opposition, improve their rankings and compete for medals.
The ongoing tournament running from 16 – 27 September will bring together chess players from countries around the world, giving the Basotho representatives an opportunity to fly the national flag and showcase the country’s chess talent on the international stage.
Ahead of the team’s departure, Chess Lesotho held a send-off ceremony attended by sports leaders and other stakeholders who gathered to encourage the players and wish them success in their international assignment.
Chess Lesotho President Moshe Mokone said the federation was proud of the players’ dedication and talent, adding that the trip was part of efforts to develop a stronger national team.
“Our wish as an association is for the team to perform well. We want these young players to earn titles, improve their strength, win medals and become better players,” said Mokone.
He said Chess Lesotho had been working to expose national team players to international competitions as part of their preparations, while local tournaments were also being organised to provide players with regular competitive experience.
According to Mokone, the federation had also sought the services of a highly experienced coach from Russia to assist the players in improving their rankings and overall performance.
However, he identified limited financial resources as one of the major challenges facing the association, particularly in securing experienced coaches.
“The biggest challenge is that we still do not have enough financial resources. Paying coaches is expensive, and that limits us. We want highly experienced coaches who can help our players,” he said.
Mokone also highlighted the challenge of balancing chess preparations with school commitments, noting that some members of the team are still schoolchildren.
“Some of them are schoolchildren, so it is difficult for them to be available all the time. We need support that will help us strengthen them and give them enough time to prepare,” he said.
He appealed to Basotho to rally behind the national team, saying public support was important in creating opportunities for players to develop and participate in international competitions.
Mokone further urged the players to respect their opponents while approaching every game with determination and the discipline expected of athletes representing Lesotho.
Meanwhile, Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) Acting Chief Executive Officer Baba Malephane congratulated the team and wished the players well ahead of their journey to Uzbekistan.
Malephane said reaching the level of representing Lesotho at an international competition was an achievement in itself, but challenged the players to travel to Samarkand with the intention of competing rather than merely participating.
He said the selected players had demonstrated that they were among the country’s leading chess players and expressed hope that they would use the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities against international opposition.
Malephane also called on businesses and sports sponsors to support chess and other sporting disciplines, pointing to tax incentives available through the LSRC for companies that contribute to sports development.
He said financial assistance from the private sector could help sports associations acquire equipment, access quality coaching and create opportunities for athletes to compete internationally.
The LSRC official further encouraged members of the public and other stakeholders to contribute to the national sports fund as another avenue through which they could support the development of sport in Lesotho.
The Lesotho delegation travelling to Samarkand comprises 14 members, including players, officials and other team members.
Among the notable players are LebajoaTšepe and TokeloKlaas, both of whom hold the FIDE Candidate Master (CM) title, while BonoloNtsielo holds the Women Candidate Master (WCM) title.
The presence of FIDE-titled players provides the national team with valuable experience as it prepares to face players from across the world.
The team’s participation has also received backing from several organisations and businesses that have contributed towards enabling the delegation to attend the international event.
Summary
- Lesotho’s national chess team is set to travel to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where it will represent the country at the 2026 Chess Olympiad, with the players aiming to test themselves against international opposition, improve their rankings and compete for medals.
- The ongoing tournament running from 16 – 27 September will bring together chess players from countries around the world, giving the Basotho representatives an opportunity to fly the national flag and showcase the country’s chess talent on the international stage.
- Malephane said reaching the level of representing Lesotho at an international competition was an achievement in itself, but challenged the players to travel to Samarkand with the intention of competing rather than merely participating.
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.
