Boost for district football associations

Moorosi Tsiane

The Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) on Wednesday last week handed over 10 computers, printers and internet-modems to its district affiliates.
The equipment, worth over M70 000, was presented to representatives of the 10 District Football Associations (Difa) during a ceremony held at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena.
Lefa also gave each of the associations M7 500 at the ceremony — their last subvention for the year 2014.

In his address, Lefa president, Salemane Phafane said the equipment seeks to help enhance the operations of the associations, while also facilitating communication between the two parties.
“Lefa, as the football mother-body, found it necessary to help the associations with this equipment to assist them with their day-to-day operations.
“This equipment is also meant to facilitate easier communication between head office here and the district associations, for the overall benefit of our football.
“This is part of our longstanding programme aimed at improving the standard of football in our country.
“We have also appointed fulltime football administrators in all the districts, as we are expecting all the clubs in this country to follow in our footsteps.
“This is the last part of the associations’ M15 000 annual subvention as they have already received the other M7 500,” he said.
Phafane further noted Lefa last gave the associations computers about five years ago.

Meanwhile, Phafane also announced, at the handover ceremony, that Lefa is set to receive M9.4 million from the Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa).
“The association will receive about M9.4 million from Fifa, of which US$190 000 (M1.9 million) is from television rights of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, while the other US$750 000 (M7.5 million) is a bonus.
“Fifa works like Lefa; if its finances grow, then its affiliates will benefit accordingly.”

Phafane further said Lefa’s annual grant from Fifa had been increased from M5 million to M6 million beginning next year due to the “good work” the association has been doing over the years.
“We have a very clean record regarding our Goal projects.

The Goal Four Project, where we were putting an artificial turf at the Maputsoe ground, is now complete and Fifa has been very impressed with our work to the extent that the world football-governing body has increased our grant from M5 million to M6 million,” said Phafane.

In his vote-of-thanks on behalf of the recipients, Difa Mafeteng president , Tšeliso Ramatla, paid tribute to Lefa for the equipment.
“We are very grateful for this equipment, as it will help us enhance our daily operations.
“The equipment will be particularly helpful in licensing clubs, since there is a new format, which requires such technology,” Ramatla said.