Moorosi Tsiane
Fans are in for a treat when the Lesotho Netball Association (LNA) host a groundbreaking tournament from 20-21 December at LCS Ground in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The tournament is expected to feature 26 primary and high school teams from Maseru, Quthing, Mohale’s Hoek, Mafeteng, Leribe and Butha-Buthe.
LNA Public Relations Officer, Matšepo Mohau, on Friday told the Sunday Express that the tournament is a continuation of UNICEF’s 25th anniversary commemoration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child launched in October this year.
“We held tournaments for the southern, northern and central regions at primary and high school level, so teams which emerged victorious in those competitions would be the ones taking part in the upcoming championship. This is a continuation of UNICEF’s 25th anniversary celebration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child,” Mohau said.
The winners, she added, would receive a floating trophy and full netball playing kit, while the runner-up and third-placed team get a playing kit and set of bibs, respectively. All the participating teams would get netballs, Mohau further said.
“We are hoping to empower the girl-child through this tournament, but we will also have senior female and male teams at the tournament,” Mahao said, adding the tournament would also be used to select the national under-17 team.
Mohau further said UNICEF and LNA have been working together in a campaign aimed at ending violence against women and children.
“The two parties have been working jointly on a campaign to prevent violence against women and children through sport, which was officially launched on 11 October 2014,”said Mohau.
She added LNA and UNICEF had equipped 110 teachers with coaching and officiating skills in an effort to improve the sport.
“We have trained about 110 teachers from primary and high schools as part of the development of the sport. This is to ensure continuity when these children leave school.”