Moorosi Tsiane

THE Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) last Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Lesotho Mounted Police (LMPS) to compel football teams to follow Covid-19 regulations.

LeFA information officer Mikia Kalati told the Sunday Express on Friday that the MoU is meant to help football teams to meet the regulations that are prerequisite for any team to resume sporting activities.

“This MoU is entered into by and between LeFA and the LMPS,” reads the document.

“The purpose of this MoU is to establish the terms and conditions under which the teams affiliated to LeFA who participate in the competitions organised by LeFA, will meet and function in line with the provisions of the national Covid-19 mitigation measures as they appear in the Gazette of the 22 March 2021 as issued by the Minister of Health Semano Sekatle.

“LeFA has well over 700 teams spread across the length and breadth of the kingdom in seven different categories namely; the Premier League, A Division, B Division, C Division, Women’s Super League, Women and Girls District Leagues and Youth Leagues.”

According to the MoU, each team must solicit the LMPS’ approval before hosting any sporting event.

“The government gazette states that all (organisers of) out-door sports should solicit the approval of the police prior to hosting sport events. In this regard, the onus is on LeFA teams to solicit the approval from their respective LMPS offices. The LMPS is authorised by the same gazette to approve the hosting of the sports. This MoU serves to create a delivery in terms of the same provisions such the LMPS and its delegated offices nationwide are able to assist the teams in the jurisdiction of the teams and or the remote LMPS offices.”

Kalati said apart from the LMPS, teams are also expected to make arrangements with the nearest health facilities which can help them in case of an emergency.

“The police are the ones who ensure that we all abide by the law and this case is not different as there is already a gazette that states that teams should involve them.

“Apart from that, every team is also expected to make arrangements with the nearest clinics which can help them should there be suspected cases of Covid-19.

“It is not too difficult. Teams must just sit down with both the police and the clinics and map how they will work. Also, there are compliance officers at all teams, so they will be working together with the clinics.

“The compliance officers are trained to deal with such issues. We just want to cover all the bases should there be a suspected case,” Kalati said.