…as LSRC bemoans poor funding for AUSC Region 5 Games
Leemisa Thuseho
THE African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 has unveiled the 13 sporting codes for the 2026 Region 5 Youth Games, scheduled to take place from 4 to 13 December 2026 in Maputo, Mozambique.
According to the official announcement on Tuesday, athletes from member countries will compete across 13 sporting disciplines. The selected sports are: Athletics (including wheelchair racing and events for the visually impaired), Special Olympics (for athletes with intellectual disabilities), Basketball (including the 3×3 format), Boxing, Football, Judo (including refugee athletes), Karate, Netball, Swimming (including para-swimming), Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, and Volleyball (including beach volleyball).
The Region 5 Youth Games serve as a cornerstone for sports development in Southern Africa, featuring athletes under the age of 20 from the 10 member countries: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The event provides a critical platform for identifying and nurturing future stars while fostering regional integration, friendship, and cultural exchange.
Organisers also confirmed that the Maputo 2026 edition will introduce official qualifying standards.
“These standards will be established and governed by their respective regional sports confederations in collaboration with AUSC Region 5,” the statement read.
“This new pathway is designed to elevate the level of competition, ensure a consistent high standard across all participating nations, and provide clear development targets for aspiring athletes.”
The organisers emphasised that the inclusion of Special Olympics remains a key feature of the Games, highlighting a strong commitment to inclusivity and the unifying power of sport for athletes of all abilities.
The Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) media officer, Pule Rantšeli, said the commission hopes to send a large delegation and compete in all 13 sporting codes. The selection process is set to begin next year.
“We are hoping to compete in all 13 sporting codes,” Rantšeli said.
“The selection process for athletes will start next year because we are currently securing funds from the government to support participation in all the sporting disciplines.”
Meanwhile, LSRC chief executive officer, Realeboha Segoete, revealed that while the commission submitted a budget of around M20 million for the trip and team preparations, only M2.9 million was approved—an amount he described as insufficient.
To prepare for the Games, LSRC has appointed its vice-secretary, Refiloe Maphallela, as Chef de Mission (CDM) and head of Lesotho’s delegation. Maphallela previously served as general manager for Team Lesotho during this year’s AUSC Games held in Windhoek, Namibia, from 4 to 13 July 2025, and he also led the volunteer team during the 2021 AUSC Games hosted in Lesotho.
For the Maputo Games, Maphallela will work closely with LSRC treasurer, ‘Malineo Makhang, who has been appointed as general team manager. Makhang also serves as secretary-general of the Lesotho Institutions Sports Association (LISA).
