LESOTHO'S MALE NETBALL TEAM SNATCHES BRONZE MEDALS

Lesotho's Confederation of African Netball Association (COSANA) Senior Challenge cup male team snatched a bronze medal at the end of a three-day tournament at the Lerotholi Polytechnic on Sunday 06 October,2002. The awards were presented by Queen 'Masenate Mohato Bereng Seeiso at the royal palace on Sunday.

In an interview, the Team Manager Mrs. 'Mamasingoaneng 'Mimi 'Mabathoana said the local team showed character and determination by winning the award as it was for the first time it participated in the netball competition of this nature. She stated that Lesotho followed South Africa and Namibia who collected gold and silver medals respectively, adding that the latter's male athlete was awarded the best player of the tournament medal.

Mrs. 'Mabathoana stated that the female senior team Lishoeshoe went away with the best dressed team in the competition after displaying their traditional attire of hides at the opening ceremony and their tracksuits with blue, green and white stripes during the tournament. She pointed out however that despite having won Namibia only in the tournament, the team dominated the play and only faltered when it comes to scoring. "We played well but failed to score due to short stature of our athletes unlike our opponents who boosted taller players upfront," she explained. 

The Team Manager said the tournament was an eye opener and vowed that in the next tournament, they would show much improvement. She stated that the overall preparations of the tournament were successful, adding that even the visiting countries were satisfied with the arrangements like accommodation and meals served.

 Mrs. 'Mabathoana noted that the finals on Sunday were marred by chaos in the final match between the defending champions Malawi and South Africa as the former could not accept defeat and as a result violence erupted on the field. She said as a result, the prize for the winners had be decided on the boardrooms as the Malawians had lodged a protest which they lost and South Africa were crowned new COSANA queens and went away with gold medals and a circulating trophy.

Other awards were as follows; Malawi went home with silver while Botswana got bronze medals. Swaziland pocketed the best-disciplined award. The tournament is biannual and the next hosts of the next competition would be announced in due course.

07 October,2002