Africa-Press – Lesotho. Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) has appointed three Lesotho women referees to officiate at the COSAFA Women Championships cup tournament.
The games will play from August 26th to September 04th in Durban, South Africa (SA) at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Lesotho’s most respected Head referee Nteboheleng Setoko
together with Assistant referee Polotso Maapara have been selected to officiate at the COSAFA Women championships League qualifiers. Lesotho woman Assistant
referee Puleng Mahomo is also invited to officiate the COSAFAWomen Cup that is scheduled to play from September 15th to 25th in Gqeberha SA. The COSAFA tournament is another major step forward for women’s
football in the Southern Africa region. The teams that will lock heads in this tournament are divided into two groups where Group A consists of the hosting team Mamelodi Sundows Ladies of
SA, Double Action Ladies from Botswana, Eswatini’s Manzini Wanderers and the beloved Lesotho Defence force Ladies. Group B will see Zambia Green Buffaloes drawn alongside
Black Rhino Queens of Zimbabwe and Tura Magic from Namibia. Lesotho Referees Association Coordinator Mohau Sentšo disclosed that the association has 40 women referees that assess premier league and A
division matches, four international referees and among those, three of them have been selected to officiate at the COSAFA tournaments. “COSAFA usually holds
regional tournaments annually where women referees from the Southern Africa region participate, therefore our three women were selected by COSAFA based on their
performance from the previous tournaments that the association held. Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) did not select the referees that will officiate in
the COSAFA, and therefore the transportation, food and accommodation costs will be covered strictly by COSAFA,” said Sentšo COSAFA has shown commitment in empowering and capacitating
women with relevant skills and allotting those equal opportunities as their male counterparts. “Being represented by our women referees on the biggest
stage is an indication that our association is doing well when it comes to showcasing local talent. I have a strong feeling that this golden opportunity
that has been offered to our ladies will boost their skills and knowledge of the beautiful game,” he said. Sentšo said he believes that the three ladies will be competent and officiate matches efficiently, like the highly respected local Assistant referee Souru Phatšoane, who frequently represents Lesotho well in the international tournaments.
