Africa-Press – Lesotho. THE senior women’s netball team, Lishoeshoe, is set to participate in the 2025 Africa Netball Cup scheduled for 8 to 14 December at the Griffin Sayenda Sports Complex in Lilongwe, Malawi.
However, concerns have mounted over the team’s level of preparedness, as they will depart without undergoing their usual residential training camp.
The team is expected to leave on 4 December.
Since the final squad was named in October, players have only been meeting for weekend training sessions. It had been hoped that a final week-long residential camp would be held to fine-tune preparations, but this has not materialised due to financial constraints.
A camp would have provided coaches and players with consistent training sessions, enabling athletes to refine technical skills and sharpen tactical awareness.
Camps also offer a supportive team environment that helps build confidence, strengthen team cohesion, and enhance understanding of how individual skills merge into a collective performance.
In addition to the absence of a camp, Lishoeshoe will travel to Malawi without having played a single international friendly match — a vital component for assessing their readiness ahead of major competitions.
Lesotho Netball Association (LNA) public relations officer, Maureen November, confirmed that plans for a camp had fallen through.
“We had hoped to have a camp before the team leaves, but things are not adding up,” November told the Lesotho Times.
“We are doing all we can to make sure the team is ready and makes it to Malawi. On Monday, our players went to take the yellow fever vaccine as part of the requirements for the trip.”
Further uncertainty surrounds the technical team, as head coach, Tumelo Sefali, is unlikely to travel with the squad due to academic commitments. His assistant, Ketso Matamane, is expected to take his place.
November said the association will issue an official announcement once a final decision has been reached on the technical team’s composition.
The Africa Netball Cup will serve as a critical benchmark for participating nations as they prepare for the 2027 Netball World Cup Qualifiers. The qualifiers will run from 1 January to 30 September 2026, with fixtures yet to be released.
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