MASERU — Lesotho’s top four athletes have agreed to shelve competing in local and regional competitions as they set their eyes on the London Olympic Games in July.
The athletes — Pulane Majoro, ’Mamoroallo Tjoka, Tsotang Maine and Mokhejane Lesenyeho — struck a deal with the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) to sacrifice commercial competitions until after the Olympics.
This means the four are now out of the lucrative Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in Cape Town next month.
LNOC public relations officer, Moshoeshoe Mokake, told the Lesotho Times they reached the agreement after lengthy discussions with the athletes.
“We talked and convinced the athletes to at least sacrifice the other competitions which we know they make a living from as we invest in our country’s success,” Mokake said yesterday.
“After lengthy discussions, the runners agreed to shelve their participation in commercial races until after the Olympic Games.”
Mokake said they hoped the agreement could help Lesotho win its first medal from the world’s most prestigious games.
He said the athletes had however demanded that the committee devote more attention to their needs as they stepped up preparations for the games.
“They just needed support, they are welcomed by the organising committee to have regular meetings to iron out whatever problems that might arise,” Mokake said.
The four are currently in an intensive training camp at Afri-Ski, Mahlasela in Mokhotlong.
The camp, which began in January, is being sponsored by Afri-Ski.
Lesotho performed poorly at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing with all the athletes failing to win any medals.
Mokake said they had since learnt their lesson and were hoping to correct any mistakes that were done in the run-up to the 2008 games.
One of those problems was the issue of communication.
“Those problems helped us see where we went wrong and we are now on the right track to ensuring that Lesotho brings a medal from this year’s games,” he said.
The games are scheduled to run from July to the end of August.
Lesotho first started competing in the Olympic Games in 1972 but has never won any medal.
Meanwhile, the LNOC has organised sponsorships for Lesotho’s seven-man team as they prepare for the Olympic Games qualifiers.
The seven athletes are — Majoro, Tjoka, Maine and Lesenyeho for marathon, track runners Selloane Tšoaeli and Mosito Lehata and boxer Moroke Mokhothu.
Mokake said the sponsorship would help the athletes to successfully represent the country in London.
“The four marathoners are currently camping in Mahlasela, fully sponsored by Afri-Ski owner Ntate Bosman while Tšoaeli and Lehata will be in Mauritius,” Mokake said.
“Moroke’s sponsorship is a domestic one where he will have his own personal trainer but he is also allowed to go to Botswana and Swaziland if there is need for further training.”
