…become the first high school team to play in the women’s topflight soccer league.
Leemisa Thuseho
MPHAKI High’s female football team will go down in Lesotho’s history as the first school side to play in the Women Super League (WSL).
The Quthing-based ladies will now be contesting against heavyweights such as 2022/2023 champions LDF Ladies, and runners-up Kick4Life Women.
Mphaki were elevated to the top league last weekend after winning the Southern Region promotional play-offs played at the District Football Association (DiFA) Stadium in Mohale’s Hoek.
They clinched the five-team tournament after winning all their four matches, while Massive Ladies finished second on nine points and Khotsong Stars came third with six points. Fourth-place went to 05 United Ladies after they accumulated three points, while Linaleli finished bottom of the table after failing to secure any point.
Mphaki coach, Kutlang Ramokhele, on Monday told the Lesotho Times he was happy that for the first time, he had led a team into the WSL despite the many challenges which came with coaching students.
Among the many difficulties he cited was assembling all the players for training, especially during school holidays.
However, Ramokhele also said the victory was not only for the school but the entire district as this would be the first time Quthing was going to have a team representing it in the WSL.
“It was not an easy journey to earn the promotion, but due to hard work, we managed… I am very happy because this is a dream come true,” Ramokhele said.
“We started competing in Lesotho Football Association competitions in 2019, and never looked back since then.
“It is challenging to work with school-children especially when the schools are on break, hence it was a hassle to gather them for this weekend’s tournament.”
Ramokhele further said he believed he had a team capable of competing in the WSL but would still need reinforcements.
“I understand that we are going for a higher level of competition, but looking at the standard of our super league, I think most of my players can match that status and compete. I will just have to reinforce the team a bit. But all-in-all, we are ready to face the new challenge,” he said.
Now that they are about to start a new journey which is more demanding as far as finances are concerned, Ramokhele said they would be out looking for sponsors.
Meanwhile, Mawese Ladies won the Northern Region promotional play-offs held at DiFA Maputsoe Stadium from 1-2 July.
Mawese and Mphaki will occupy the two slots vacated by Limkokwing University Ladies and Sky Battalion following their relegation from the WSL last season. The WSL consists of 10 teams.
