Seabata Mahao and Tebalo Lebajoa
For five long years, Setsoto Stadium has remained in a state of disrepair, if not worse, after being banned from hosting international matches by FIFA and CAF.
Successive governments have dangled promises of refurbishment, yet the country’s lone national stadium still stands as a crumbling monument to neglect and inefficiency.
Most recently, the Ministry of Sports, Tourism, and Culture assured the public that the long-overdue renovation would commence in January this year.
That date has come and gone, and still, no work has begun. The Ministry now scrambles to explain yet another delay, citing bureaucratic red tape and international banking processes as the latest excuses.
Speaking to Newsday Sports this week, the newly appointed Director of Sports, Thabo Tsiki, stated that the Ministry was currently awaiting confirmation from the contractor’s bank in Belgium after issuing a letter of credit.
Tsiki explained that this letter of credit serves as a guarantee that the contractor will receive payment upon completing the project.
The initial expectation was for the contractor, under the company Adel Grass, to be on-site and begin work by the end of January. However, progress has been slow due to delays in international correspondence, according to Tsiki.
“The total cost of refurbishing the stadium is approximately M85 million, with M7 million allocated specifically for the artificial turf installation by Adel Grass. The Ministry’s plan is to allow Adel Grass to complete the turf installation before another company begins construction on dressing rooms and other facilities identified by FIFA,” Tsiki explained.
However, this is the same rhetoric Basotho have been fed for years, plans, contracts, and budget allocations that never materialise into actual renovations.
Millions wasted as Lesotho plays ‘home’ matches abroad
The consequences of government inertia have been dire.
Setsoto Stadium was officially banned in 2021, forcing the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) to host the national team’s matches outside the country, at great financial cost.
The association has haemorrhaged millions renting stadiums in South Africa and paying for security to accommodate fixtures for World Cup qualifiers, AFCON qualifiers, and CHAN competitions.
LeFA’s Secretary General, Mokhosi Mohapi, has been vocal about the government’s failure, blaming it for blocking access to crucial FIFA funding.
In a scathing open letter to the government in October last year, Mohapi outlined how the stalled renovations have robbed Lesotho’s football development programs of crucial investment.
“As a result, projects such as the Under-20 Girls National Team, the Under-15 Boys and Girls National Academy, and the construction of two technical centers in Mohale’s Hoek and Leribe have been shelved,” he lamented.
Mohapi also highlighted how political leaders have turned sports development into a talking point during elections but failed to deliver once in power.
“In 2022, every major political party promised in their manifestos that Setsoto Stadium would be revamped. Two years later, Likuena is still playing home games on foreign soil,” he stated.
In late 2024, Minister of Sports Motlatsi Maqelepo announced that the installation of the new artificial turf at Setsoto Stadium would commence immediately after Lesotho’s Independence celebrations on October 4. Maqelepo stated that the project would involve both international and local contractors, with the latter responsible for infrastructure repairs, including toilets, seating, and other essential upgrades.
“We have hired a consulting company to assist in appointing contractors for critical fixes such as electricity and sanitation,” Maqelepo said at a media briefing in Maseru.
While he could not provide a definitive timeline, he expressed optimism that if work began in October, the entire project could be completed by January or February 2025. He acknowledged that Setsoto Stadium was outdated compared to international standards but emphasised that the priority was to make it functional again for hosting games.
However, as of now, no visible progress has been made. Not a single construction vehicle has been seen on-site, raising concerns about further delays.
Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane has also addressed the issue, acknowledging the long-standing challenges surrounding the stadium’s renovation. Speaking at the Vodacom Premier League (VPL) end-of-year awards in July 2024, Matekane stressed that the government was actively working to resolve the situation.
“I have directed the relevant ministers, including the Minister of Sports and the Minister of Finance, to address this matter urgently. I expect regular updates on the progress of Setsoto Stadium’s renovation,” Matekane stated.
Built in 1992, Setsoto Stadium is a crucial sporting hub in the country, primarily hosting football matches. With a capacity of 20,000, it serves as the home ground for the Lesotho national football team. The stadium underwent renovations in 2010–2011 but has since fallen into disrepair, forcing the national team to play home fixtures abroad.
In the last quarter of 2024, the country hosted several games abroad, highlighting a pattern of missed opportunities to play at home.
In October, Likuena traveled to Gabon for matchday three of the 2025 AFCON on October 7. They played away against Gabon in Franceville on October 11. Just four days later, on October 15, Likuena hosted Gabon in Durban, South Africa. At the same time, Mehalalitoe participated in the COSAFA Women’s Cup in Port Elizabeth.
In November, Likuena played the second leg of the first round of the CHAN qualifiers away during the first weekend of the month.
Later, in the third week, they played their matchday five home fixture against the Central African Republic in South Africa, followed by the final 2024 AFCON qualifier away in Morocco.
December saw the Under-17 Boys and Girls teams participating in the COSAFA Youth Cup in eSwatini. During the third week of the month, Likuena again participated in the CHAN qualifiers.
With no visible work at Setsoto Stadium, it remains uncertain when the facility will be restored for international matches, despite government assurances.
In his open letter, Mohapi had also mentioned that the lack of investment in sports is further highlighted by the paltry M6 million annual budget allocated to the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC), which is expected to fund over 30 national federations.
He said this amount was laughably insufficient to support participation in continental and international sporting events, let alone develop domestic facilities.
The Economic Drain of Playing Abroad
Beyond the humiliation of playing home matches in foreign stadiums, the economic cost is staggering.
LeFA alone, according to Mohapi, has spent over M14 million renting stadiums in South Africa. Supporters, many of whom struggle to make ends meet, have also borne the brunt of this crisis, traveling at their own expense to cheer for Likuena and Mehalalitoe in South African venues.
He said one vendor, a fruit seller in Maseru, has spent over M10,000 on travel and match tickets to follow the teams.
Mohapi further pointed out the irony of the situation: “The government spends millions trying to recover funds lost to corruption, while at the same time, it willingly allows millions to flow out of the country due to its own incompetence.”
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