Leemisa Thuseho

THE Federation of Athletics Lesotho (FAL) presidency race will be between three candidates including the incumbent president, Makhaola Serake, the Sunday Express can reveal.

Serake is facing tough competition from current vice president Tšeliso Pheta and treasurer Kokolia Mokonyama.

FAL is expecting to hold its executive committee elections on 20 March. As per the election’s road map, the deadline for election nominees’ submission was 28 February. The approved list of candidates for the elections is expected to be announced today.

However, even before the official announcement, a source told this publication on Friday that only three names were submitted for the president’s position.

“The names submitted for the presidency position are Makhaola Serake, Tšeliso Pheta and Kokolia Mokonyana,” the source said.

FAL public relations officer Sejanamane Maphathe, who has previously announced that he would not contest in the elections, said he would only confirm the nominated candidates tomorrow.

“The approval and collection of nominees is now in the hands of Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and I will only be able to confirm the candidates’ names once they are announced,” Maphathe said.

Pheta had earlier confirmed his intention to stand for the election. He would be renewing his tenure after being elected president last October. However, his committee was dissolved as per World Athletics’ advice. This after the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) disowned the committee insisting that the elections were unconstitutional because they were called unprocedurally.

And Pheta has expressed his confidence in retaining the post.

Serake on the other hand also confirmed that he was in the race.

“For one to stand for elections, he must be appointed by his or her respective district, so I have been appointed and that means I am going to contest,” Serake said.

He said all the documents and nominations from the districts were only submitted to the IEC on Friday afternoon and they were now waiting for the final list. He said the list was supposed to be announced today (Sunday) but chances are that there might be some delays.

On his part Mokonyana, also confirmed that his name had been forwarded for the presidential race.

“I was nominated and I am praying that the association will be in the hands of people who are willing to help the sport grow,” Mokonyana said.

Pheta is from Qacha’s Nek district, while Serake and Mokonyana were nominated under Maseru and Mafeteng districts respectively.