Key points from the LeFA President’s media briefing – 19. January, 2022

1. *LeFA Assistance Program*

*The Lesotho Football Association will provide 1100 affiliated clubs with footballs.

*Each of the 1100 clubs will get five footballs being 2 match balls and 3 training balls as a subsidy.

*previously LeFA had 800 registered clubs. The footballs will go to only clubs that have played and appear on the log of the current season.

*The footballs are part of the Assistance Program together with M600, 000 financial assistance to the District Football Associations (DIFAs).

*Does not include the Grassroots support given earlier.

*Doesn’t include the Covid-19 Relief Fund money given to affiliated clubs in two tranches, which amounted to a pay out of over M15millipm maloti across all the mens leagues.

*A further 1.2million was disbursed to the Women’s football teams in either a cash relief to the Super League teams and equipment to the lower league clubs.

*All this from the LeFA coffers

*Financial Assistance*
*This week, HQ will disburse over M300, 000 into the DIFAs as the first installment of the annual subvention.


*There is also a M740, 000,00 to be shared by the 10 DIFAs to enable them to undertake some strategic developmental work.

2. *Setsoto Stadium*

*Setsoto Stadium remains suspended from hosting international matches since last year.

*Setsoto suspended for a number of infractions including the pitch, technical benches, change rooms, lack of requisite amenities such as equipped doping room, lack of internet facilities, running water etc.

* A fine of USD4000 was issues and the Government has paid it.

*Lesotho will have to play its official matches and friendly matches probably in South Africa.

3. *AFCON 2023*
* The draw will take place this Friday at 5pm local time in Lesotho and Likuena is among countries that will start the competition in the preliminary stage.

*Preliminaries to be played in March and lack of stadium might augur bad for the local supporters should the stadium not be ready by March 2022.

*LeFA already written to the Ministry about this.

4. *National Team Head Coach Search*

*Following the departure of Mr. Senong, LeFA has begun its search for his replacement.

* Job to be advertised this week locally and internationally

* Envisaged that by mid-February, the coach should start and aim is to qualify for AFCON 2023.

5. *Naming of the LeFA Facilities*

The two facilities in Mohale’s Hoek and Maputsoe have not been named and LeFA invites proposals from the media and public before 28th February 2022.

*The names will be revealed in March.