Africa-Press – Lesotho. Lesotho Netball Association (LNA) held female senior team trial games over the weekend and selected 18 best players to build the squad that will represent the country at the Africa Netball tournament
to be held in Namibia next month. This happens after the office of the LNA Director Development announced the appointment of the technical teams for both
female senior team and male national team. LNA Public Relations Officer (PRO) Telang Machela, speaking in an exclusive interview with Informative Sport on
Tuesday, informed that 24 women participated at the trial games whereby 18 were selected to form part of the squad. He said the selection will carry on and out
of those 18 players, the best 12 will be chosen as the finalists to represent the country in Namibia. “The final female elite team will also be participating in the annual Confederation of Southern Africa Netball
Association (COSANA) Championship that was supposed to be held in September this year but the Africa Netball Board postponed the tournament to the date not
yet mentioned at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) that was held on the 07th July 2021,” Machela explained. He added that the selected players are between the ages of 18 and 20 as demanded by the tournament and they come from
various netball teams even though the teams in the remote areas did not manage to participate due to distance. “The teams from other districts did not
qualify; therefore most of the athletes in the senior team are from the teams that are found in Maseru district,” Machela noted. The 18 players that made it to the
squad are all Maseru residents. Confronted about this seemingly bias decision, Machela said other teams based in the districts like Mafeteng, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka,
Butha-Buthe, Mokhotlong had a chance to participate but they did not meet the requirements. He said the netball clubs which the squad was picked from include
Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS), Leqele and Focus. The squad consists of; Makoae Rethabile, Moerane Moliehi, Masia Litšoanelo, Matsepe ‘Malesenyeho, Phokojoe
Nthabiseng, Mokilane Matšeliso, Mohlouoa ‘Mamokete, Maino Matšeliso, Molise ‘Malesaoana, Thaane Nthabiseng, Morai ‘Mampiti, Mahao ‘Mamonehela, Tšotetsi ‘Makhothalang, Maetso ‘Makhotso, Sekoati
Thandokazi, Makepe Limpho, Lekhooana Thato and Mahao Nthomeng while the female senior technical team is made up of Mr Mohai Mosheoa Clestus who is duly appointed as Head Coach, Ms ‘Marethabile Sepiriti is duly appointed as the Assistant Coach, Ms ‘Matsepo Mohau is duly appointed as the team Manager.
