Mohalenyane Phakela
LOCAL social club, Team Shanghai will on Saturday host its pilot picnic at Marabeng in the outskirts of Maseru aimed at fostering a unity among local youth.
Formed earlier this year, Team Shanghai was initially a football club which played on Sundays against other amateur teams in what is popularly known as the old-stock games.
The aim was to unite Maseru men with the social gatherings that were held after every game. The following grew and also ended up attracting women and the organisers turned it into a social club that accommodates people of different preferences.
Dubbed Picnic with Shanghai, the event targets the creation of an interactive and relaxed scene that inspires to connect and empower people in business.
“Team Shanghai seeks to create an environment that is conductive for social interaction, cohesion and unite the youth,” one of the organisers Rethabile Makhobole said.
“We are passionate about creating an environment where the youth can be proud of. We support artistes and local chefs so the picnic is about formulating new relations in a relaxed environment. We also create awareness that despite unemployment, the youth can be stronger or achieve more if they stand united.
“These are just baby steps to what we really want to achieve, which is making Lesotho a better place economically, socially and politically.”
Although food and drinks will be sold at the free entrance venue, revellers are expected to bring their own camp chairs, cooler boxes and fleeces.
“We encourage people to buy food and drinks at the picnic to support our brothers and sisters who are not even employed who will be selling their wares.”
The party is expected to move to Cappello at the Maseru Mall at nightfall. DJ Gama, Trojan Van Der House and Cappello resident DJs Lee Dasoul, Shaix and Ntikzino are expected to entertain the merrymakers.
