Africa-Press – Lesotho. A team of 20 athletes to represent the Mountain Kingdom it in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games was officially announced on Tuesday. This year’s Commonwealth Games are scheduled for Queensland, Australia between the 4th and 15th April 2018.
At the games, Lesotho will be represented in four sporting codes namely; athletics, boxing, cycling and weightlifting. In female athletics Lesotho will have the following team members; Lerato Sechele ( high Jump), Tšepang Sello (800m), Mokulubete Makatisi ( 1500/5000m), Lineo Chaka (5000m/10000m) and ‘Neheng Khatala (Marathon).
Athletics male are; Mosito Lehata (100/200m), Badboy Toka 5000/10000m), Ramolefi Motsieloa (5000/10000m) and Tšepo Mathibelle (Marathon). In boxing, only ‘Mantoa Ranone (57kg) will be battling it in the female category while five men; Thabo Molefe (52kg), Moroke Mokhotho (56kg), Qhobosheane Mohlerepe (60 kg), Mokhachane Moshoeshoe (69 kg), and Kokole Paneng will be looking forward to earn Lesotho medals.
The last time Lesotho won a medal in boxing at the Commonwealth games was in 2006 when the current Lesotho Boxing Association (Leba) member, Moses Kopo won a silver medal during the games held in Melbourne, Australia.
As for cycling, there is only one female; Likeleli Masitise (Mountain Bike) out of three men; Phetetso Monese (Mountain Bike), Tumelo Makae (Mountain Bike) and Malefetsane Lesofe (Road).
Lastly, Lesotho managed to send to this games one weightlifter; Bafokeng Moeti (69kg) who is now on his final training at the University of Pretoria- High Performance Centre (HPC) South Africa. Together with his coach Relebohile Motjamela, Moeti will be there until end of March.
Speaking at the announcement of the team, the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Morake Raleaka said the committee had been preparing for this games since coming back from the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Scotland and even after the Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games.
This he said had been done through securing some scholarships for local athletes to enhance their competence in their respective sporting codes. On the other hand LNOC president, Ms ‘Matlohang Ramoqopo believes that the long preparations will results in more medals to the Mountain Kingdom team.
She also pointed out that the country has almost 26 sport associations/federations but now is going to be represented only in four sporting codes.
That she said had to be reviewed so that next time Lesotho could have a large pool of athletes from different sporting codes going for these games.
Ramoqopo mentioned that Lesotho still has a long way to go in producing its own on standard coaches to avoid sending players out to other countries in preparing for highly world profiled games.
The Deputy Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation, Honorable Rethabile Marumo wished the team good luck and urged Basotho to fully support the team while steal here at home.
Team officials – Management
; Bothobile Shebe (Chef de Mission), Likeleko Lepitla -General Team Manager; Realeboha Segoete- Administrator; Moshoeshoe Molapo- Press Attaché – Makhetha Mosotho- Team Doctor; Relebohile Mabote – Team Physiotherapist, and Letsatsi Ntsibolane-Team Attaché
Team officials – Sporting;
Sejanamane Maphathe -Team Manager Athletics, Selloane Ts’oaeli Coach Athletics, Thabelo Ranthona Coach Athletics, Sebusiso Keketsi Coach, Boxing, Liphalo Moeketsi Coach Boxing Mark WEST Coach, Cycling ,Stephen Gallagher Coach Cycling and Relebohile Motjamela Coach Weightlifting.
Commonwealth Games Association Lesotho – Official delegates;
Matlohang Ramoqopo President and Morake Raleaka Secretary General.
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