Leemisa Thuseho
FORMER Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) vice president administration, Tlali Rampooana, was on Sunday elected the committee’s new president after beating Lesotho Football Association first deputy president, Khiba Mohoanyane.
Rampooana will lead the committee for the next four years after polling 37 of the available 50 votes. Mohoanyane, who is also the former Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) president, polled only 13 votes.
Rampooana is succeeding ‘Matlohang Moiloa-Ramoqopo, who has been leading the commission since 2001.
The elections saw former treasurer, Lebohang Khomari, being elected the new deputy president finance. He eased to victory over former LNOC Athletes’ Commission chairperson, Moholo Lekomola, and Lesotho Boxing Association (LeBA) secretary, Lehlohonolo Snyman. Khomari polled 27 votes against Lekomola and Snyman’s 12 and 11 respectively.
Letsatsi Ntsibolane was elected deputy president administration after beating Bothobile Shebe by 32 votes to 18. Ntsibolane was previously the deputy president finance in the outgoing committee while Shebe was the deputy secretary in that committee.
Federation of Lesotho Rugby (FLR) president, Fetang Selialia, outpolled Phomolo Lebotsa to win the public relations officer post by 35 votes to 15 votes.
Thabo Tikoe was elected treasurer unopposed while ‘Mabokang Mdandalaza, ‘Mamotšabi Lekhabunyane and ‘Makutloano Kheola are the new committee members.
The deputy secretary post is vacant as no candidate showed interest. Initially, Shebe was the only candidate nominated for that position but she later pulled out. Therefore, the committee will decide on how that void will be filled.
Lekhabunyane, Mdandalaza and Tikoe are the only new members in the committee. The rest have served previously.
Rampooana promised to work together with his committee to develop local sports.
“Now that the elections are over, we will work together with those who didn’t win to improve our sports,” Rampooana said.
He also showered praises on the outgoing president for outstanding leadership skills which saw her being elected into continental and international Olympics bodies.
He therefore promised to continue with Ramoqopo’s good work.
“We are taking over the leadership at a challenging time when Covid-19 has disrupted sports across the world. However, we can overcome these challenges if we work together towards improving sports. The committee cannot achieve its goals alone but must be complemented by national federations.”
He said his committee will immediately start preparing for the Paris Olympics which will be held 2024. This time all athletes have just three years to prepare for the Olympics after the last edition was delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.