MASERU — Mozambique, this year’s host for the All Africa Games, says preparations for the continental showpiece are at an advanced stage.
Mozambique women football president Palmira Pedro Francisco told the Lesotho Times soon after a press conference on Tuesday that the country’s preparations for the games were on schedule.
The All Africa Games are set to run from September 3-18 in Maputo.
Francisco was speaking soon after the press conference organised by the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) ahead of an international friendly match between the two countries.
Lesotho lost 4-0 to Mozambique at Setsoto Stadium yesterday.
“We are very happy that we will be hosting other nations in the next few weeks for the All Africa Games,” Francisco said.
“Our government is working hard to ensure that the games are a success and all the nations that will be competing enjoy their stay in Mozambique,” she said.
She said it was not easy for her country to organise these games in two years but “all the Mozambicans have made it possible to ensure that everything is in order ahead of the games”.
She said Mozambique’s Prime Minister Aires Ali was working hand in hand with the teams ahead of the games.
“Our PM is always on the training fields, either football or tennis, to ensure that all the teams representing Mozambique in this tournament are ready, motivated and have the mental strength to win,” Francisco said.
Meanwhile, Francisco said Lesotho was the right candidate to help her women’s football team to prepare for the All Africa Games.
“Lesotho is a very strong team. They played very well at the Cosafa Women Championship and managed to defeat us despite their absence in international football for six years,” she said.
Lesotho defeated Mozambique 3-2 at the Cosafa Women Championship held in Zimbabwe early last month.
This was Lesotho’s first international win since its first official match in 1998 during the World Cup qualifiers.
Lesotho will be competing in tennis, taekwondo and athletics, among other sporting codes.
However the country’s preparations for the games are hanging in the balance after the ministry of sports’ alleged failure to budget for the country’s participation.
