By Mikia Kalati
MASERU — Baitse Motsamai, 27, has been appointed the new Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) administrator.
Speaking in an interview with the Lesotho Times yesterday, Motsamai said he is fully aware of the expectations and challenges he is facing in his new role as they seek to professionalise the game.
The premier league has over the last two years been seeking permission from the football governing body, Lefa, to get the autonomy to run its own affairs with Lefa focusing on the national teams.
“As much as I’m still familiarising myself with everything here, I’m aware of the challenges and I feel I’m ready for the task,” Motsamai said.
He said the biggest challenge will be getting sponsors for the league and reviving competitions such as the Top 8 which has not taken place for a few years now.
“Some of my responsibilities will be working with clubs on a daily basis and also getting sponsors to improve the competition among teams,” he said.
Motsamai completed a degree in sports management at the Central University of Technology in the Free State last year.
He told this paper that he has a rich history of playing football while growing up as a kid in Khubetsoana.
“It is very normal with every black kid to have played football growing up and I’m not different from others,” said Motsamai.
He said he has always had a keen interest in football and it played a key role in him studying sports management. I must admit that I do not know that much about local football as I have been away studying, but I follow a lot of African football and I believe my bosses and those within the structures of the Lesotho Football Association will offer a helping hand to speed the process of familiarising myself with everything here,” he said.
Motsamai said there will be new innovations to give the premier league body a new shape.
“What I can tell is that there is a lot in store to improve the league and I’m not yet in a position to reveal all the plans,” Motsamai said.
He said the main priority will be getting sponsors and reviving the Top 8 competition.
The league last week announced that they are still in negotiations with Vodacom Lesotho over the renewal of a new sponsorship deal for the league.
The new league season roars into life on August 24.
