Seabata Mahao
A contingent of athletes representing Lesotho at the 13th African Games, scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana, departed for the continental event earlier this week.
Formerly known as the All Africa Games, the African Games are a prestigious multi-disciplinary sports event held every four years by the African Union (AU) on behalf of its member states.
This year’s edition is set to run from March 8 to March 23.
Lesotho will be represented in four sporting disciplines: athletics, boxing, cycling, and taekwondo.
International Taekwondo stars Michelle Tau and Tsimane Leboela will proudly hoist the Lesotho flag in the taekwondo category.
Joining them will be female runner Mokulubete Makatisi, and male runners Namakoe Nkhasi and Tšepo Ramashamole, who will represent Lesotho in athletics.
In the boxing arena, Retšelisitsoe Kolobe and Mathealira Seholoholo will proudly represent the country.
Notably, prominent cyclist Kabelo Makatile will complete the lineup for Team Lesotho in the tournament.
The non-playing members of the team are nine, bringing the total number of the Lesotho delegation at the tournament to 17.
“As our country is celebrating the 200 years as a nation, we are going out to compete in East Africa to leave history for our nation and the world as part of our contribution to the bicentennial celebration,” said general team manager, Makutloano Kheola at the farewell ceremony earlier this week.
One of the athletes, Ramashamole read out a pledge of the athletes which stated that they were going war.
“We, the athletes of Lesotho acknowledge our undertaking to confirm to the athletic code of conduct sent by us. We will participate in the games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them and in the spirit of fair play, quality and inclusion for all,” the pledge read.
The LSRC president, Litšitso Motšeremeli stated that they have been preparing for the Games for a long time with different programs such as a high performance program which included all these athletes that make team Lesotho.
“Under the tight restrictions of our budget, we really tried to take them to their different camps and preparations while giving them the international exposure needed outside the country in order to have they full experience,”
“We are proud of our team, they are here because they have qualified to be part of the first team,” Motšeremeli stated.
