Chris Theko
The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) has warned national football team coaches at all levels to start delivering good results going forward, failing which they must resign and not await the inevitable-being fired.
This was revealed by the association President Advocate Salemane Phafane(KC) during a media briefing on the soccer developments in the past couple of months.
Phafane said it was time that national coaches started delivering on their mandate as they have been given all the resources necessary for them to deliver expected results.
“Our national under-20 team Makoanyane IX used to perform exceptionally well in competitions such as the Confederation of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA) championship in the past and we need that back.
“Our hope is that with the time and the support that we have given them, they will bring us positive results. I am not only directing this to the under 20 coach but to the other coaches as well. Coaches should either shape-up or ship out,†he said.
The Senior National men’s team Likuena will also compete in this year’s COSAFA Championship to be staged in Durban, South Africa from July 3 to 14 2021.
Specifically, Phafane warned the Likuena coach Thabo Senong to ensure that his charges shine at the COSAFA or equally face the boot.
“We can all acknowledge that Mr Senong has been with us for a while now and we can all agree that we have seen a shake-up and improvement in results since his time with the team. Even despite being faced by the challenges brought by Covid-19 he still did his best with the team. However, we have set a target for him with the upcoming COSAFA, should he fail to reach the semifinal, he is also not safe because that is a stage I know we can reach because we have reached it before,†said Phafane.
He stated that his administration has pledged to provide all the national teams with all they need to prepare fully for their respective upcoming assignments.
“We pledge here that whatever the teams need, we shall provide so that they have nothing to complain about. We commit to helping them by any means possible,†he said.
Before the briefing, the media and other guests were treated to a tour of the ongoing LeFA infrastructural development projects at Bambatha TÅ¡ita Sports Arena.
Since August 2020, LeFA has been busy with rehabilitations to their premises. They have erected a new technical building which is also housing a gymnasium that was said to have cost around M2.5 million.
The soccer pitch was given a facelift with an artificial turf which is said to have cost M6.5 million while the other artificial turf which was laid at Mohales Hoek District Football Association Ground cost M7 million.
Other infrastructures such as the change rooms and spectator sitting cost M4 million and M2.25 million respectively.