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Financial constraints have disrupted Lesotho's senior national team
Likuena in their build up to the second match of the African Cup of Nations
(ACN) against Gambia away on October 13.Likuena players were supposed to
resume camping last Monday but that was not possible due to 'lack of enough
resources'.
In an interview on Friday the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lesotho Football
Association (LEFA) Mr. Boniface Mokalanyane said the association needs M330
000 in air tickets for 25 people for the trip to West Africa. Mr.
Mokalanyane stated that they are already involved with local companies like
Econet Ezi Cell, Morkels and Total to assist financially, adding that nothing
concrete has come out yet, except promises. He was however adamant that they
would finally succeed, saying they are
doing all they could so that Likuena could resume camping." We are doing
everything in our power to see Likuena going to camp as quickly as
possible," he added.
The CEO however appealed to other companies to rescue the national side in this
situation, adding that the association could only manage to take the team to
camp but that is not possible as yet since they cannot afford air tickets.Mr.
Mokalanyane noted that the quarterly M250 000 subvention from the government
cannot afford to take the team to Gambia, saying it is utilized mainly for
administration purposes.
Meanwhile, the CEO stated that they are still trying to challenge several teams
like Ghana, South Africa and Swaziland for a possible international friendly
match en route to Gambia. He noted that if they succeed to get a friendly
game, the team would leave on October 06, failing which they would fly two
days later. Likuena players are now training at the Police Training College
(PTC) in the afternoons only. In the first match of the 2004 Tunisia ACN
qualifying games, Likuena lost 0-1 to Senegal at home two weeks ago and need
a victory against Gambia to keep their chances of qualifying for the finals
alive.
23rd September, 2002
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