Africa-Press – Lesotho. Lesotho Taekwondo teams dominated the 2018 Korean Ambassadors Cup Taekwondo Championship held in Pretoria South Africa. Lesotho was represented by four clubs namely, Mafeteng Taekwondo Club, Butha-Buthe Taekwondo Club, Lerotholi Polytechnic and New Millennium High School Taekwondo Club.
The tournament saw New Millennium collect a total of 36 medals; Gold medals-12, Silver medals-14 and Bronze medals-10 and therefore were selected as the best team at the tournament.
Lerotholi won two (2) gold medals, three (3) silver medals and one (1) bronze. Butha-Buthe got one (1) gold medal as Mafeteng won one (1) silver and one bronze.
The second country was South Africa with a total of eight (8) gold medals, five (5) silver medals and four (4) bronze medals. Mozambique, Botswana and eSwatini were also represented at the extravaganza.
Talking to New Millennium High School Taekwondo Club coach Mr Nkuebe Ramosoeu, he said most of their medals came from their youth athletes. He mentioned that they increased their medal winning opportunities by ensuring the availability of two to three (2-3) youth players for every participating category.
Overall New Millennium had a total of 58 players who competed in the championship. Ramosoeu added that they take advantage of international tournaments because their focus is on developing young athletes.
He believes that international exposure is essential for youth athletes as it familiarizes them with competitions’ pressure, especially abroad. Therefore he said in future Lesotho will have competent athletes who know what to do to win.
On the other hand, Lesotho Taekwondo Association (LCA) Vice Secretary General Mr Relebohile Moletsane indicated that Lesotho’s overall performance was impressive.
He did however; mention that there is still much to be done in terms of development. He agreed that they have to turn their focus on development, indicating that failure to do so will result in scarcity of elite competitive athletes in future.
“We fear we may not have players who will replace the current elite athletes when they retire,” he said. Moletsane made an example with Lesotho’s taekwondo star Marumo Moloisane who is currently training in Germany. He said since Moloisane’s departure last year they do not have any player who can compete Malosane’s capacity.
