Lioli seek arbitration

MASERU — Lioli will seek arbitration in their battle with LCS for Lesotho’s one and only spot in next year’s CAF Champions League.
After a month long stalemate with the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) Lioli have now decided to pursue legal means.
As things stand it will be LCS and not champions Lioli who will represent Lesotho in the 2010 Champions League.
In July, LEFA nominated LCS, who finished third last season, to play in the continental competition.
Upon the decision Lioli sought to meet LEFA’s president Salemane Phafane. That meeting finally took place last week but bore no fruit.
“We have not had any feedback from LEFA so we have decided to evoke article 40 of their rules and regulations,” Lioli president Lebohang Thotanyana told the Lesotho Times yesterday.
Article 40 requires LEFA to set-up an arbitration board to resolve any extraordinary issues.
With the registration deadline for the Champions League on November 30 time is fast running out for the matter to be resolved.
“I’m not sure when the arbitration process will start but we (Lioli and LEFA) have agreed that we have two very different viewpoints,” Thotanyana said. “They will need to set-up an arbitration commission to resolve the matter.”
The commission will be an independent panel.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times yesterday acting chief executive officer Mokhosi Mohapi confirmed that LEFA had received Lioli’s directive.
“We have received the letter from Lioli,” Mohapi said.
“I’m awaiting instruction from the president (Salemane Phafane).”
The development comes ahead of the Lioli’s awards ceremony on Saturday where Tse Nala will celebrate last season’s championship victory, their first in 24 years. However to the club the greatest reward would be participation in Africa’s premier club competition.
This year Lesotho had no representatives in the Champions League after 2007/08 champions LCS were not registered.