Mikia Kalati
Africa-Press – Lesotho. Newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Arts, Sports and Culture, Honourable Motlatsi Maqelepo has expressed his desire to help the Lesotho national team, Likuena become a competitive force in the continent.
Honourable Maqelepo was speaking as he visited the Likuena camp ahead second match of Group C against Benin in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers played at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.
The initiative by the minister will be welcomed by the football fraternity as the government has made little or no contribution to the Lesotho national team over the years, which has had to play its matches in South Africa after the government failed to maintain the Setsoto Stadium, which has been suspended from hosting international matches.
The Minister praised the Likuena technical team and players after frustrating Nigeria in Uyo in their first match of Group C, where Motlomelo Mkhwanazi put Likuena ahead in the 57th minute, but Nigeria was able to equalize to salvage a 1-1 draw.
The recently sworn in minister stated that he has limited that to make a meaningful contribution to help improve the standards of sports in the country and pleaded with Likuena players to always dream big.
“In this ministry I’m serving, I have limited time, I have been given a mandate, I’m not going to be here forever, and I want to challenge you LeFA, the technical team as well as you the players, you will not be there for a lifetime,” the minister said.
“Maybe in ten years’ time, you will no longer be playing and with the time we have now, we must together make a difference, particularly in football.
Honourable Maqelepo sang praises of the Likuena players and stated that he is already exploring available options to support Likuena as they continue to do the country proud.
“I wish to make a promise that I have not wasted anytime and was quick off the mark to explore options that are available to me to get support for the team because we need to reward people when they are doing well,” Honourable Maqelepo said.
“Going forward, no one should fly our flag high without being shown appreciation. I want to be a minister that shows appreciation to people that hoist Lesotho flag high in international competitions.
“We have to work very hard on our develop but no one can put a blind eye on such a good performance of our team by not supporting it,” he said.
The new sport minister vowed to advocate for sports among his colleagues in the cabinet and will also sit down with the sports mother body, Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission LSRC to map a way forward.
“I can tell you that I will do all that I can to make a difference in sports, throughout the world, athletes and people from the creative industry get a lot of recognition and we should change that position in our country,” the Minister explained.
“I told myself that I’m going to be an advocate for sports, I’m going to make sure that from the higher level of the cabinet and Basotho at large, we look at sport differently and get the recognition it deserves.
“My plea will be for us to work together and we will sit down to map a way with LeFA. Of course, we will have ups and downs here and there, which is normal when people work together.
“There is no doubt that football is very popular and is on a rise. Basotho loves this team and are behind it all the time,” he said.
LeFA second vice President Matloko Mafantiri said the gesture shown by the newly appointed minister to express his support to the football mother body and the senior national team, is a huge boost to football in the country.
“You can see the smile of each player with your visit. This team has been doing very well and with you by your side, I have no doubt that the performance will improve for the better,” the LeFA Vice-President said.
“With this kind of an initiative, we will be going to the World Cup with you. On behalf of LeFA and Likuena, we thank you for the initiative and we hope it’s the beginning of good things to come between us and the ministry,” he said.
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