Makoanyane XI Off to Benin
  The national Under 20 soccer side, Makoanyane XI,  left the country on January 9 for the eight nation African Youth Championship that kicks off in Benin on January 15 and ends two weeks later. 

 Bidding the team farewell at Maseru Sun Cabanas just before their departure, the Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation Mrs 'Mathabiso Lepono said the team has made the entire nation proud. The Minister urged the team to show commitment and exercise discipline in order to achieve their ultimate goal of bringing victory home.

 'The whole country is behind you and you should not disappoint them, as we expect you to go all the way to qualify for the World Youth championship, to be staged in the Netherlands later this year,' she said.

The Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) has donated M20 000 to the team as an incentive. Each of the 25 member delegation,  headed by Lesotho Football Association president Advocate Salemane Phafane, got M800.

Commission vice secretary general, Mohau Lika, commended the team for the honour they had brought on to the country by reaching this, the highest competition in the youth category.

'If you could work hard and exercise discipline which I think are the key factors that put you where you are today, victory would come as a bonus,' he said.

Makoanyane XI will open up the tournament against Morocco on January 16 and entertain Angola three days later before wrapping up the Group B games against the only other Southern Africa nation, Angola on January 23.

10 January 2005
  source: LENA