Moorosi Tsiane

LESOTHO Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) vice president Moipone Mashale says a decision has been reached to unveil the athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming All Africa Games from 16 to 30 August in Rabat, Morocco.

This comes after a long season of confusion between the LSRC and the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) on who among the two bodies, has the responsibility of preparing for the games.

In the past, the All Africa Games team was prepared by the LSRC but there was confusion this time around after the games were moved from the African Union (AU) to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).

Mashale admitted that there was indeed confusion between the two bodies but said it was resolved that a task team be formed to resolve the impasse. Eventually, it was agreed that the two bodies work together to prepare the team.

“These games are now under ANOCA and now are going to be used as the Olympics qualifiers and we know that at the continental level, this is the same association which deals with the Olympics,” Mashale said.

“That is what was causing the confusion between the LSRC and the LNOC until it was decided that we form a task team which can work to resolve the clash for the benefit of the country.”

She said it was decided that the two bodies share positions to avoid further complications.

“We decided to form a task team to deal with the preparations and it was also agreed that the two bodies share positions in the delegation that will head the team,” she said.

Mashale, who is part of the task team, said they have also agreed to take athletes who are already part of the Podium Performance Programme (PPP) and High- Performance programmes.

“The team will be unveiled next week and we have agreed to take athletes who are already training in the Podium Performance and High-Performance programmes because they are at an advanced stage in terms of training,” Mashale said.

Athletes who are already in these two programmes and are likely to be announced in the team are a boxer Moroke Mokhotho, Mosito Lehata (sprinter), Tšepang Sello (short distance runner), Lerato Sechele (long and triple jump), Michelle Tau, Marumo Moloisane and Ramosoue Nkuebe (all in Taekwondo).