Mehalalitoe’s Heart-warming Outreach Before COSAFA Championship Departure
In a touching act of solidarity, Lesotho’s senior women’s football team, Mehalalitoe, handed over gifts to the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) women’s facility on Thursday, before departing for the 2024 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship.
The team donated essential items such as sanitary pads, washing powder, bar soap, and footballs for the inmates’ recreational use.
The gesture was warmly received by the LCS management, who expressed gratitude for the kindness shown. Superintendent ‘Mamolemo ‘Mota, speaking on behalf of the facility, said the donations are particularly important for inmates who often lack basic necessities due to limited or no family support. She acknowledged the difficulty of their work in caring for the prisoners but emphasised that the donations serve as a reminder that the inmates are still valued as people, despite their past mistakes.
“We are helping them to rehabilitate and repent from their actions, and learn to be a changed person, if they have nothing they cannot be comfortable,” Mota said. “There are people out there who understand even if you broke the law, you are still a human being,”
The national team manager, Baholo Motene, explained that the visit was meant to motivate both the players and the inmates. She highlighted the importance of the team’s connection with the inmates, noting that the prisoners watch Mehalalitoe’s games on TV, and the outreach was meant to foster a sense of solidarity.
“When the team was preparing for the COSAFA we wanted to come and see our sisters, because there are TVs here they watch us, and rehabilitate and maybe when you see the team they will also be motivated when they leave and will work hard. We thought what it is we can do to give back and these are the gifts we have brought,” Motene said.
Defender Thato Mapepesa echoed these sentiments, saying the gifts were a way to show love and encouragement to the inmates, assuring them of the team’s support as they work to bring home a victory from the COSAFA Championship.
In closing, Superintendent ‘Mota wished the team the best of luck in their upcoming competition and expressed hope that their hard work and preparation would pay off.
Mehalalitoe’s gesture reflects not just their dedication on the field, but also their commitment to giving back to their community, offering hope and support to those in need.
Tlalane Phahla
