Mikia Kalati
The Federation of Lesotho Rugby (FRL) is confident the country’s rugby sevens team will do well in their first ever international tournament that gets underway in Zambia on 30 August.
Lesotho is among the nine countries that will take part in the Lusaka International Sevens Tournament and the Likatola team are in Group A alongside Zambia, Botswana and Burundi.
FRL Secretary General, Litšitso Motšeremeli, said the players were looking forward to the tournament although their preparations had faced several challenges.
“It will be a new experience that we are all looking forward to as a team,” Motšeremeli said.
“The tournament will be a learning curve for us as it will be the first time that we compete in a Sevens international competition.
“It is a chance to show the continent how far we have come.”
Motšeremeli said due to financial constraints, the team was yet to report for camp and players went home after training.
“We are facing challenges to be as professional as other teams in small things like having the players in camp and giving them the right meals.
“But the players understand our struggles and remain focused for the test ahead. They want to make a mark even though we will take it one step at the time as a country that is still learning and getting used to the international stage.”
He said after the Zambia tournament, they would host one of their own before going to Namibia “and if we do well we will be promoted to a higher level of the sport in the continent”.
Motšeremeli also said their recent Gala Dinner helped them raise M22 000 which will assist them in their activities.
“We have a lot of activities especially our development programmes where the coach has been going to different schools for coaching clinics.
For his part, Likatola Sevens coach, Roy Zhou said his players were working hard and looking forward to their first competition.
“We have been working hard and everything is on track.
“The team spirit is high and we will banking on our speed to win matches against our opponents who are generally big and strong,” Zhou said.
