Minister of Sports Kabelo Mafura
Mikia Kalati
NEWLY-APPOINTED Sports Minister, Kabelo Mafura has called for total commitment from Likuena players in order to see off Namibia in Saturday’s COSAFA Cup quarterfinal clash at the Royal Bafokeng Palace Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa.
Mr Mafura made the call during yesterday’s send-off ceremony for the senior national football team at Bambatha Tšita Sport Arena in Maseru.
The regional competition got underway in the North West in South Africa on Sunday and Lesotho have a tricky tie with the Namibians who won the tournament in 2015.
“It is very important for the players to put all their focus on the task ahead listening to the instructions of their coaches,” Mafura said.
“I know the team will do well and that can be done as long as the minds of the players are focused on achieving on the field of play.”
Mafura said despite having been in office for a few days, he had “managed to give the team a small token of appreciation that has already been handed to the (national football) association”.
“I will continue to support the team and my hope is that we all work together going forward,” he said.
LeFA second vice president and Likuena team manager, Rantsubise Matete said they were “very happy with the presence of the minister and should make it clear that what he has given to the team are not allowances.”
Likuena captain Bokang Mothoana also took to the podium to thank the minister for gracing their sent-off ceremony.
“I wish to thank our minister that within a short space of time in office, he has come to wish the team well ahead of the tournament,” Mothoana said, adding, “We are humbled with his presence and we promise to fight for our country”.
“We are going to the tournament to hoist our flag high and we thank everybody for the support that we have been getting.
“It is a big motivation to have the minister at our farewell reception and we hope to see him regularly at our activities.
“We have prepared well and we have no doubt that the support will play a big role in our doing well at the tournament,” he said.
