Mikia Kalati
THE Lesotho Volleyball Association (LVA) is back in full swing following mediation by the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) and the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) to end the infighting that disrupted operations in recent years.
The volleyball association has been in turmoil since 2016 when the then president, William Nhlapho, was relieved of his duties following a power struggle within the association.
This led to the association holding a special conference in March 2017 electing a new committee which ousted Nhlapho and elected Mpho Palime as the new president.
The infighting within LVA also led to sanctions by African Volleyball Confederations (CAVB) which also refused to recognise the new executive committee.
However, things look to be back on track following the mediation by the two sports mother bodies and the involvement of CAVB through its president, Amr El Wani.
The developments were confirmed by LNOC secretary general Morake Raleaka, who told the media this week that his association worked with LSRC to help LVA get back on track.
“I should explain that the LNOC working together with LSRC are is giving feedback on the infighting that rocked the volleyball association,” Raleaka said.
“Some time in 2016, there were challenges that faced the association within the executive committee and LVA tried to resolve those issues until the LNOC and the LSRC also had to be involved.
“After the involvement of the two mother bodies, it then led to a situation where the constitution of the association gave them a direction to go for elections.
“We thought that the election would be the answer for the instability of the association and a new committee was elected.”
Raleaka said they then engaged the international federation alerting it on the latest developments resulting in the CAVB president travelling to Lesotho to meet all the stakeholders to resolve the conflict.
“It was only in December last year when we managed to have the president of volleyball Africa in Lesotho and we had sessions with him as all the stakeholders involved in the dispute.
“He met with the new executive committee of LVA, former president in Ntate William Nhlapho, the LNOC and the LSRC representatives and we all looked at ways that we could find a solution to the matter.
“This was due to the fact that the LVA was losing out a lot of benefits that would improve the association and, in the end, we reached a compromise for the sake of the sport, the association and its development continentally.
“So, all the stakeholders all agreed to make a fresh start and put all their differences aside to have volleyball back on track because the sport had been suffering especially for a country that is going to host the 2020 Region 5 Games as well as the African Youth games in 2022 with volleyball among the sport codes to take part in both those games.
“The comprise taken by all stakeholders was to open a new page and to find a way forward in bringing stability into the association.
“An agreement reached was that the suspension on LVA by the continental body be lifted immediately and was given the greenlight by its president. Secondly, it was agreed that the executive committee members be given a chance to play their part within the regional mother body like other countries as part of their growth.
“Thirdly, the CAVB president advised that since they have worked together for a long time with Ntate Nhlapho, it was agreed that he will work hand in hand with the new committee to share his experience as an experienced administrator and one of the vice presidents within the regional body.
“This agreement was reached in the presence of the president of the regional body, the new LVA committee as well as Ntate Nhlapho and the two mother bodies,” Raleaka said.
