Catch them young

The Lesotho Football Association through their technical department has embarked on a country wide grassroots festival to revive the passion of the beautiful game within the youth.

According the LeFA Youth Development Officer Mohaila Letseka, the initiative has been a success since it was introduced in 2016.

“The project has been a big success because it has been well received by the kids and coaches since it started in 2016 and is now an annual event,” Mohaila told the LeFA media.

“It’s benefiting our football in many ways in that it helps to recruit young coaches, who are working with these kids in all the districts of Lesotho. The initiative is meant for both boys and girls and in the same way, we are also not focusing on recruiting only male coaches, but women as well.

“I feel that it is also helping to empower young coaches as they are able to produce and nurture young players that will go on to represent their country at the highest level coming through the junior national teams up to the senior team.”

Mohaila also stated that he feels the programme is helping the young coaches to be ready for the challenges that come with coaching in the youth structures in the country, where there are little resources and support from the corporate world.

“They also get to go through the hardships that comes with football in this country where you work with very little or no resources at all,” the LeFA Youth Development Officer said.

“Well, despite all those challenges, we have been doing all that we can through our office and the assistance from the football mother body to help provide the districts with the needed equipment such as soccer balls and playing  kit.

“I have no doubt that if we continue with these project and work together as the football stakeholders, we will get a lot out of it,” he said.