By Moorosi Tsiane
MASERU — The National under 17 Basketball team’s preparations for the second African Youth Games Basketball 3-on-3 set for Botswana from May 24 to 30 are on schedule, said the Lesotho Basketball Association.
In an interview with the Lesotho Times this week LBA public relation officer, Ratšolo Molupe, said the preparations are going on as expected.
The national side will be joined by 52 other African countries vying for a spot in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games set for Nanjing, China in August.
Molupe said they had trials a fortnight ago in a 3-on-3 tournament format that was aimed at helping ease the selection process for the squad.
“We held the 3-on-3 tournament two weeks ago as part of trials for the youngsters to prove whether they deserve to be in the squad leaving for Botswana,” Molupe said.
He said they currently have a total of 10 players in their team adding that the search for the finest would continue until the final five have been selected.
“We have total of 10 players at the moment but we are still in search for more talent outside the Maseru district,” he said.
Molupe said the initiative is sponsored by the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC).
LNOC secretary general, Morake Raleaka said although the tournament was the second after the one which was held in Morocco in 2010, this is the first time we take the Basketball team to this competition but we are hoping it will not be the last time”.
Raleaka said LNOC would be sending seven different sporting codes of Athletics, Boxing, Golf, Taekwondo, Tennis, Cycling and Swimming including the Basketball team to represent the country in the this continental show piece.
