Africa-Press – Lesotho. THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) and International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Coach Educator, Serame Letsoaka, has said coaches’ training is a key component in improving the standard of football globally — and Lesotho is no exception.
Letsoaka made the remarks this week during the official opening of the CAF A-Diploma Coaching Course being hosted by the Lesotho Football Association (LeFA).
The course, to be delivered in four phases, has enrolled 23 coaches — both local and foreign — and will run until May next year.
Letsoaka, who is the course facilitator, applauded LeFA for its continued commitment to developing coaches, noting that qualified and knowledgeable coaches are fundamental to football development.
“Football development does not start at the national team level like many people think; it starts at the grassroots, and that is where we need coaches,” Letsoaka said.
He said aspiring footballers are in abundance among children in Lesotho, and they need coaches to guide and nurture them into formidable future players. However, he said that inadequate facilities remain a major challenge.
According to Letsoaka, recent amateur football reports indicate that Lesotho’s coach-to-player ratio stands at one coach for every 500 players — highlighting an acute shortage of coaches at grassroots level.
“Football development is like schooling. It is not possible for a teacher to be responsible for 500 children, access all of them, and get the best out of them.”
Letsoaka further pointed out another key challenge in Africa: former players are often reluctant to take coaching courses because they believe their extensive practical experience is sufficient, forgetting that football continues to evolve.
Lesotho Coaches Association representative, Teele Ntšonyana, underscored the importance and responsibility of coaches in elevating Lesotho’s football — or that of any other country — and in developing players holistically.
“It is the responsibility of us coaches to take our football beyond its current state,” Ntšonyana said.
He emphasized the need for coaches to collaborate in order to elevate football development in the country and to refrain from working in silos. He urged coaches to join the association to strengthen collective efforts.
Ntšonyana also appealed to the trainees to implement the knowledge they will acquire from the course, saying it would be pointless to obtain qualifications but fail to use the knowledge to develop the sport.
Meanwhile, LeFA Secretary-General, Mokhosi Mohapi, expressed dissatisfaction with the current cohort of trainees which is made up entirely of men. He said this contradicts the association’s strategic plan, which advocates for at least 30 percent women inclusion to ensure balanced development between men’s and women’s football.
“When we talk about football development, we cannot develop men and leave women behind,” Mohapi said as he challenged the LeFA Technical Director’s office to address the imbalance.
Mohapi also took the opportunity to urge coaches to join the association, stating that LeFA aims to invest only in individuals who are affiliated with its structures.
He further informed coaches that in future no one will be allowed to enrol for coaching courses without first completing safety training.
“We want to create a safe environment for everyone,” Mohapi said.
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