The Minister of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation has commended Metropolitan Lesotho for investing in sports.
Mrs. Mathabiso Lepono described the move as a vehicle towards achieving excellence in sports by 2020.
The Minister was speaking at the handing over of a cheque amounting to M200, 000 by Metropolitan Lesotho to the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) on Wednesday. The money is intended to improve LDF sporting facilities.
Receiving the cheque on behalf of LDF, Mrs. Lepono said government is aiming to achieve excellence in sports by 2020 and that Metropolitan Lesotho has followed that policy.

She said that her Ministry will undertake a massive project of face lifting the Setsoto stadium from Monday next week, saying this is in preparation for the country to host one of the European nations to camp in Lesotho in 2010 world cup to be hosted in South Africa.

She therefore called on Metropolitan and other private companies to join hands with the government to refurbish Setsoto stadium through financial assistance.

Furthermore, she appealed to Basotho to support Metropolitan so that it would continue to invest in sports in the country.

Mrs. Lepono also appealed for LDF management loyalty and to ensure that money will be used for the intended project hence to report back to the company for transparency purposes.

Also speaking, Metropolitan Lesotho Managing Director, Mr. Nkau Matete said partnership with LDF has been brought about by LDF members’ loyalty to the company.

He said LDF members have joined the company's Group Scheme in big numbers but have not tried to defraud the company by making false claims, hence the company resolved to reinvest the money back to the army.

'We are calling on other Ministries to follow the good example set by the LDF so that we could in return plough the profits we are making back to the community,' he stressed.

Mr. Matete said Metropolitan Lesotho is investing in many sporting codes like soccer, where they sponsor national under 20 side ‘Makoanyane XI’ for any international activities.

Passing vote of thanks, Brigadier Rakolane Posholi of LDF thanked Metropolitan for the monetary donation which he said will address challenges of inadequate sporting facilities at LDF.

He pointed out that since LDF members spend much of their time away from their families, there is need for recreational facilities to enable them spend their leisure time in sports.

Brigadier Posholi pledged that the money will be used accordingly and that it will not be used for the benefit of individuals.

The M200 000.00 donation followed the army's request to improve recreational facilities at LDF Barracks.

Source: LENA 04/06/2008