Pascalinah Kabi
MASERU — Lesotho’s national women’s football team will next month participate at the Women’s Cosafa Tournament in Reunion after a three-year break.
The side, better known as Mehalalitoe, will take part in the tournament which will run from July 2 to 10.
Women’s Football Development Committee president Maleshoane Mokhathi said the Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) had already registered Mehalalitoe for the tournament.
“I am glad to announce that the association (Lefa) has registered the team to compete in the Women Cosafa tournament that is being hosted by Reunion,” Mokhathi said on Friday.
Mokhathi said players from the national Under-20 side will make up the bulk of the squad. She said they will also rope in players who participated in the World Cup qualifying matches in 2008.
“The team that will be participating is made up of the Under-20 team that was in camp in December, which also played against Kutlwanong Ladies from RSA (South Africa).
“A few older players, those who played in the World Cup qualifiers, have been included in the squad,” Mokhathi said.
She said the team is in camp at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena as part of its preparations for the Reunion tournament.
“As soon as the coaches have decided on the final 20 players who will make the team we will announce their names.”
Mokhathi said they were going to use this team to build a national team that will compete regularly on the international stage.
“Our vision is to build a base for the senior team using the Under-20 players. We also aim to increase the pool of players for the Under-20 team,” she said.
The current players, Mokhathi added, will not automatically be promoted to the senior team.
“That can only be done through the recommendations of the coaches after assessing the players’ discipline, performance and confidence.”
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