As part of efforts to develop women’s, including coaches and administrators, interest and participation in football, the national soccer controlling body Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) held a three day workshop at the Bambatha Ts'ita this week. 

Conducted by the English FA, the workshop was meant to assist in sharing of experiences and views on how to overcome reluctance of women in football administration, according to LEFA Technical Director of youth and women football development Mr. Mafole Sematlane.

Sematlane said though the workshop had been organised to develop women's football in the country, the majority of participants were men due to the unavailability of women in this sport.  

There are only two women coaches in the country which the technical director said he believed was the result of cultural barriers and beliefs that football is a male sport. A change in attitudes and mind-set could improve the situation, Sematlane believes.

One of the English FA delegates Rachel Pavlon said in England twelve years ago, young girls were not allowed to play soccer but now the sport is very popular in that country.

Through passion and perseverance, women defied all odds and ended up being football players, fans and now administrators, she said.

Thirty local teachers and women's soccer administrators, drawn from all the districts, attended the workshop.

19 October 2005