A local taekwondo team of four athletes and three officials leaves on Monday for the World Taekwondo qualifying rounds to be staged in Manchester, England starting on September 28 to 30.

The team consists of 2007 Algeria All Africa Games gold medalist Likeleli Thamae and Hopolang Makau in the womens’ category and Thabo Ts'upane as well as Khothatso Lekanyane both bronze medalists from All Africa Games in Algeria.

In an interview, the team manager Mr. Moshoeshoe Mokake said the team coach is Mr. Joong Kee Lee while Mr. Poloko Ntulo is team trainer and Dr. Likeleli Makhothi is team doctor and head of delegation is Mr. Archie Mabote.

Mr. Mokake said the tournament is part of preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and that team Lesotho will benefit a lot in that tournament.

He said the athletes were selected based on their previous international records.

Though the trip has been fully funded by the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) purchased attire for the team.

Meanwhile, Lesotho Taekwondo Association (LTA) will send the same team in Libya for the Continental Olympic Qualifying Games later this year.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be held in August where nations across the globe convene to showcase their God given talents on various sporting activities.

Lesotho is still to bring a medal from that biggest sporting event in the world.

Source: LENA 24/09/2007