Mikia Kalati
LOVERS of football in Lesotho have been presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the 2018 World Cup in Russia where they could participate in a five-a-side football competition.
The initiative called Castle Lager Five was recently launched by the Castle Lager beer brand in South Africa in the presence of tournament ambassador Samuel Eto’o.
The qualifiers to choose the team that will represent southern Africa at the tournament in Russia will be staged in Zambia in April and they will be contested by Lesotho, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The five-a-side will be staged simultaneously with the World Cup tournament in Russia.
Former Likuena captain, Lehlohonolo Seema, who selected the Lesotho team for last year’s Castle Lager Brew League has once again been given the honour to select a team that will represent the country in Zambia.
To stand a chance of being selected, players need to buy a six-pack of Castle Lager beer and fill out an entry form. The deadline for submitting entries is 24 March.
Former football stars from the five participating countries, Tinashe Nengomasha (Zimbabwe), Christopher Katongo (Zambia), Ivo Mapunda (Tanzania) and Siza Dlamini (Swaziland) will mentor their teams for the tournament.
“I may have represented my country in different competitions such as the COSAFA Cup, along with many of my countrymen and I am very proud and honoured to have been chosen to be among the legends from our region,” Seema said.
“It shows that if you have served the game well it will also reward you.
“The tournament is a massive opportunity for every Mosotho and I encourage everyone to buy Castle Lager products to stand a chance to go to Zambia and Russia.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for Basotho as they will also be opportunities for a super fan and also entrepreneurs who own taverns that sell Castle lager products.
“It was also an honour for me to meet a top African player like Samuel Eto’o who conquered the world playing for teams like Barcelona and winning big trophies,” he said.
