MASERU – The Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) has put aside about M50 000 for this Easter’s Under-15 tournament for the southern and northern districts.
The money, part of the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme (FAP), covers preparations for the tournament, transportation of players and their meals during the tournament.
The tournament starts today and ends tomorrow for the southern districts, while the northern districts will play on Saturday and Sunday.
The southern districts tournament, in Mohale’s Hoek, will involve Maseru South and East as well as Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek, Quthing and Qacha’s Nek.
Maseru North, Berea, Leribe, Butha-Buthe, Thaba-Tseka and Mokhotlong will face off in the northern tournament in Hlotse.
The tournament is aimed at selecting a national Under-15 squad that will represent Lesotho at a five-nation tournament in Botswana starting on April 23.
The selection exercise will be carried out by national Under-15 coach Motlalepula Majoro and LEFA technical director Seephephe Matete.
District teams were selected during recent zonal games.
“We have budgeted about M50 000 for transport, food and preparations for the games,” Matete told the Lesotho Times this week.
He said 30 players would be selected for the Botswana trip.
“The Under-15 national coach will choose 30 players from the Easter tournament that will represent the country at the five nations tournament,” Matete said.
He said there would be a continuous monitoring of the Under-15s in order to nurture them into future senior national team players.
“Our main aim is to develop these players for the national team,” Matete said.
“About 50 percent of our future Likuena players must come from this programme.”
Matete said the selected 30 players will attend LEFA’s School of Excellency in June or July as part of developing their confidence and skills.
Meanwhile, the Lepereng Olympafrica Centre will host a seven-aside tournament for children aged between 10 and 15 years.
The tournament, known as the Daimler Cup, will be held at Lepereng, about 5km from the city centre, on Saturday and Sunday.
At least 28 teams within Maseru are expected to take part in the annual youth competition, sponsored to the tune of M60 000 by Daimler.
“The Daimler organisation has sponsored the competition to the tune of M60 000 which will be used for administration, logistics, food and awards,” said Khotso Mahloko, Lepereng Olympafrica Centre’s organising coordinator.
