Juniors our Salvation, Taekwondo Association Says

An eight member Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) taekwondo team will represent the country at the World Military Games set for Germany next month. The team, made up of four each of women and men athletes, leaves on October 02, according to Lesotho Taekwondo Association (LTA) Public Relations Officer, Moshoeshoe Mokake .

The team will include karateka who have already won medals internationally, such as Sergeant Likeleli Thamae and Lineo Mochesane in the female category and Privates Peter Leuta and Poloko Ntulo.

Mokake announced the introduction of a Minister of Sports National Karate Championship for juniors in the seven to 14 year old age group to help revive the sport, interest in which he said, had declined drastically in the new millennium.

The tournament, to be held at the Maria 'Ma'Basotho hall on October 9, had been named after the Mrs. 'Mathabiso Lepono to honour her great interest and passion in sport in general in the country.

Mokake said the Taekwondo Association had realised that the standard of the sport had deteriorated very much in recent years because no national championships were being organised.

“We have since realised this shortcoming and will be organizing competitions at least four times a year to identify potential champion material amongst the youngsters that we can mould and nurture into a formidable future senior national side.”

Clubs would be expected to bring at least 20 athletes per team who would then feature in ten weight categories, he said, lamenting the fact that local business was  reluctant to be involved in sports development forcing the Association to depend on the annual government subsidy, Mokake said. 

The next tournament will be in December jointly tournament featuring juniors and seniors, he said.

28 September 2004