Lesotho’s Lehlohonolo Seema with other COSAFA legends during the launch last month.
Mikia Kalati
FIVE lucky local football fanatics will be selected to join the Lesotho delegation at the ongoing Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) tournament to participate in a 5-aside Best Brew League (BBL) competition.
The initiative was introduced by Castle Lager, South Africa to celebrate friendship among consumers of its alcoholic beverage in the region.
In Lesotho, Maluti Mountain Brewery have partnered with the legendary Lehlohonolo Seema, who is the ambassador of the 2017 COSAFA edition and he will select the five players from the Mountain Kingdom to take part in the 5-aside tournament.
Seema joins other regional legends such as Tinashe Nengomasha of Zimbabwe, Siza Dlamini (Swaziland), Brian Baloyi (South Africa), Manuel Tico-Tico Bucuane (Mozambique) and Rotson Kilambe (Zambia).
The Best Brew League (BBL) will feature regular individuals selected from regional countries in a competition whose winners will be crowned BBL Champions.
Seema said it was “fun” to mingle with football supporters in the country and talk football.
“Involving supporters from every country was a good idea by the sponsors of the tournament,” Seema said.
“It was really fun to meet up with the local supporters and talk football.
“I am looking forward to selecting our 5-aside team and going to Rustenburg to try and be champions.”
Seema said every ordinary Mosotho with the ability to play football had a chance to make the team that would be selected during their main activation at Bambatha Tšitsa Arena on Saturday.
“We will select our team of five players on Saturday at Bambatha Tšita Arena and everybody who has the skills to play football can qualify,” the Bloemfontein Celtic interim coach said.
Seema who was part of the Likuena side that reached the COSAFA final in 2000, said he was confident that the current generation had what it took to be a force to be reckoned with in Rustenburg.
“My most memorable time with the national team at the COSAFA Cup was in 2000 when we reached the final though we did not win it.
“It stands out because our performance in the competition brought joy to Basotho.
“They were proud of the team and it made us happy as the players. It was just unfortunate that I missed the second leg due to injury,” he said.
He said the current side could be the surprise package in this year’s competition.
“The team has really improved and I think we stand a good chance of going all the way to the final.
“From what I have seen in recent games, the team plays with confidence and if they maintain that against Namibia in the quarterfinals anything can happen for them,” he said.
The 5-aside tournament gets underway on July 6-9 in Rustenburg, South Africa.
