Teboho Molapo
MASERU — Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) president, Salemane Phafane, was yesterday re-elected unopposed as vice-president of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa).
The elections were held in Gaborone, Botswana.
Phafane, who attended a number of matches at the Metropolitan Cosafa Under-20 Championships in Botswana, was elected for another four-year term as second in command of the regional body.
Speaking to the Sunday Express yesterday, Lefa media and communications officer, Mikea Kalati, said Phafane’s re-election will be a plus for Lesotho football.
“It’s a positive thing that our president holds a top position in the region.
“It will help us in the development of our game.
“The experience he will gain working with countries that are ahead of us, such as Zambia, will serve us well,” Kalati said.
Phafane will be deputising Sekutu Patel of the Seychelles who also retained his post as Cosafa president after South Africa’s Danny Jordaan unexpectedly withdrew from the race at the last minute.
A tight vote had been expected between Patel and Jordaan but the latter pulled out with only minutes to go to voting without disclosing reasons for his withdrawal.
Speaking after his re-election, Patel said he was pleased by the faith the region had shown in him.
“The first term was all about reorganising and restructuring Cosafa; we managed to make some developments like acquiring our headquarters in South Africa.
“We also beamed the Cosafa women’s and Under-20 tournaments in Zimbabwe and Botswana, respectively,” he added.
Patel said the challenge now is to find sponsors to help revive the region’s showpiece, the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup.
“We didn’t have the tournament for the past two years and we will work very hard to find sponsors and so far so good, we might have the tournament back next year,” Patel said.
Walter Nyamilandu Manda, Faizel Sidat, John Muinjo, Timothy Shongwe retained their places in the executive committee, with David Fani of Botswana replacing Wellington Nyatanga of Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, the Vodacom Soccer Spectacular final replay next Sunday between Matlama and Bantu will be played at Setsoto Stadium.
The match was abandoned because there was no power in Maseru.
The match had ended 1-1 after normal time.
The Vodacom Premier League fixtures that were due to be played next Sunday — Majantja against LDF and Likhopo vs Linare — have been moved to Saturday.
Bantu have been dealt a body blow ahead of that final with the news that key player Lekhanya Lekhanya has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury which he sustained in training.
“It’s a big blow to the team but we were able to play the semi-final and final without him,” Bantu communication and marketing manager, Bokang Phasumane said.
The Vodacom Soccer Spectacular winners will walk away with
M360 000.
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