Over the years, the Lesotho Football Association School of Excellence has helped to develop talents of several players that have gone on to represent Lesotho at the international stage.
Majantja midfielder Kananelo Rapuleng is the latest of a big group of players that were scouted through the LeFA youth programme as a 13-year-old before going on to play for the country’s U17 and U20 teams.
The now 23-year-old started playing football in the dusty streets of Thabana Morena before joining a local team, CF Rydo, where him and his brother Katleho cut their teeth before attracting the attention of Premier League giants, Bantu.
The duo joined Bantu in August 2022, however, the struggled for game time in a star studded Mafeteng based outfit leading to a reunion with their former U20 coach Bafokeng Mosala at Majantja after he led the club to the Premier League.
It didn’t take long for the twins to prove their worth in the red and white colours of Majantja under the mentorship of Mohapi as the Mohale’s Hoek based outfit impressed in their first season back playing topflight football.
Kananelo, who is the younger of the twins impressive displays this past season caught the attention of Likuena coach Leslie Notsi and was named in the final squad for the COSAFA Cup held in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Despite Likuena’s elimination in the group stage, Kananelo and other new faces in the team such as Khaketla Matamane have surely given the Likuena technical team something to think about going forward.
“It was such a nice experience to be part of the senior national team set up for the first time despite being eliminated in the group phase of the tournament,” Rapuleng said.
“I would say, it was a learning curve going to my first COSAFA tournament with Likuena and dream come true to win my first cap.”
Having come through the junior ranks playing for both the national U17 and U20 since being scouted for the School of Excellence, Rapuleng has always believed that he will one day don the Likuena jersey in an international competition.
“Of course, I came through the ranks at the Lesotho Football Association since being scouted as a 13-year-old boy for the School of Excellence and going to play for both the national U17 and U20,” the midfielder stated.
“To be honest, I have always believed that my chance with Likuena will come as well though I didn’t see it coming this year as it happened for the COSAFA Cup.
“It hasn’t been an easy journey to thus far because after joining Bantu in 2022, I struggled to make a breakthrough and my career was stagnant.
“I would say, that was the most difficult period of my career but I’m happy now that because I’m playing regularly and enjoying my football so much that I have been called for the senior national team,” he said.
Rapuleng has also praised the impact that Majantja coaches in head coach Mohapi and his assistant, Makepe Motolo have had in his revival.
The 23-year-old and his twin brother are now a hot property in the Kingdom and reports are linking team with a move to the country’s big guns among them Lioli as they prepare to play in the CAF Champions League.