Palesa Moloinyane
The Lesotho Badminton Association (LESBAD), in partnership with the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) and the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission, has launched a new initiative to grow badminton in the country.
The programme, supported by the Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations (DGI), was officially launched this week at Sefika High School.
Running from July 3 to July 11, the programme brings international expertise to Lesotho and aims to boost youth participation and develop local coaching skills. The collaboration is seen as a major step forward in making badminton more accessible and structured, especially for young people.
At the launch, Lerato Lepheane, also known as ‘Coach Branden,’ highlighted the purpose of the programme.
“This program aims to share skills, see how best we can practice, how best we can learn, and exchange ideas. It is also to help close the gap in badminton development across Africa,” he said.
Lepheane also pointed out that very few young people currently take part in badminton and that must change if the sport is to grow in Lesotho.
Representing the LNOC, Mark West praised the initiative, stressing its potential to bring lasting change to local sports.
“This program will not only offer technical courses for coaches but will also be about transformation, capacity-building, and bringing people together to create a lasting sporting culture,” he said.
West noted that the ultimate goal is to give more young people a chance to play and train in badminton, especially those who have not had such opportunities before.
Leading the training sessions are two experienced facilitators from Denmark, Michael Dan Nielsen and Carolin Holm. Both are experts in grassroots coaching and leadership development. Over the two-week programme, they will work closely with local coaches and players to provide practical and hands-on training.
Carolin Holm explained that their approach is based on collaboration and sustainability.
“We are not here to dictate how things should be done. We are here to listen, collaborate, and help strengthen what already exists. The goal is to empower local youth to take ownership of badminton development, with tools that are practical and sustainable,” Holm said.
The programme fits well with LESBAD’s mission to grow the sport in Lesotho, especially among the youth. It also marks a rare chance for local players and coaches to learn from international professionals and improve their skills.
The DGI Programme is globally respected for its focus on grassroots sports, community development, and support for sustainable sports growth in developing countries. With support from the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) and the Danish Federation, it brings both resources and credibility to Lesotho’s efforts.
This partnership is expected to spark new interest in badminton and provide a strong foundation for future development in the sport.
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