High School students during a netball tournamnet played at Lehakoe in this file picture
Mikia Kalati
NATIONAL netball under-20 team coach Ramafahla Thamae has released a squad of twelve players that will represent the country at the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCZA) Zone Six Youth Games.
The regional games get underway in Angola on 7 December and Ramafahla believes his team is in good shape despite the financial problems that resulted in the cancellation of part of their training schedule.
“Above everything, it is the determination of these players that has got us through the tough times as we prepare for Angola,” Ramafahla said, adding, “We had to cancel part of our training schedule due to financial constraints but the girls remained committed throughout.”
He called on the team to take the same determination into the tournament and work together to achieve good results.
“The majority of players are new to the national team setup and they are eager to learn and improve their game.
“They are happy to get game time, exposure and grow as a team,” he said.
He said they recently played and did well against Machabeng in a match where the aim was to “work on our strategy and get the combinations right”.
“The plan is to get as many games as possible before we leave for the tournament because it is only then that we will see our mistakes and rectify them.
“We also need to keep encouraging the players to remain focused despite the disappointments that have seen some of their preparations called-off,” he said
He also said expressed gratitude to Lehakoe Recreational Club for providing training facilities at their base as well as Alliance Insurance and Mak printing who supported their preparations.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Netball Association (LNA) will hold an Open Festive Tournament to be staged at Lesotho Correctional Service Netball Grounds on 26 November.
LNA public relations officer, Matšepo Mohau said the competition will feature female and male teams.
“The association agreed to stage one tournament before the end of the year and we came up with the idea of the Open Festive competition,” Mohau said, adding, “Our league will only start early next year so we had to keep our players in good shape before then”.
Under-20 Netball squad for SCZA games:
Ntsoaki Matsoakeletse, Boemo Lebesa (both Thetsane High School), Mirriam Phamotse (Lesotho Correctional Service), Relebohile Sekike, Limpho Makepe, Matseliso Toloane (All Leqele High School), Nthomeng Mahao (Lesia High School), Xoleswa Sepelemane (Mopholosi High School), Moliehi Motumi, Thandokazi Sekoati, Nandipha Mqhakane ( All Moorosi High School, Boitumelo Mapape (St Paul High School).
