LEFA TO REDUCE INTERNATIONAL MATCHES NEXT YEAR.

The move has been necessitated by the government's stern warming that all different associations should reduce inter- national participation due to limited resources and instead focus on national development programmes.

LEFA General Secretary, Mr Ts'eliso "Frisco" Khomari said the association has decided to reduce international participation as the government has reduced its subsidy drastically from One Million Maluti to M350 000 for all soccer national teams in the country.

"We have no alternative but to reduce our football inter- national participation due to financial constraints from the govermment, but we are still negotiating with the Lesotho Sports Council about the matter," he added.

He said the suggestion is that all the expenses on covering international matches could be used to improve infrastructure for youngsters and the association will only participate in the Africa champions league while the senior national team Likuena will contest in the Africa cup of Nations (ACN) and COSAFA Castle cups only.

Mr Khomari pointed out that COSAFA is self sponsored while in the ACN competition, they have no chance as they are already in the qualifying rounds, and could be fined a lot of ' money if they could withdraw at this stage.

He said the government cited Free Education for standard one students, reconstruction of buildings and roads in the country as its priority. The Director of sports in the Ministry of Tourism Sports and Culture (MINTOUR) Mrs' Mamotebang Ntokoane has con- finned that the government has reduced its subsidy to all the sports associations in the country.

She stressed that besides lack of funds, the government is concerned about the many trips out of the country without bringing glory home and therefore decided that associations should first focus on developing sports in the country and improving facilities more than spending money on international trips.

"Associations should rather have developmental policies as a way of uplifting the standard of sports in the country other than using funds for inter- national competitions," she emphasized.

The Association took part in the COSAFA Castle cup, World Cup, CAN, under 20,17 and Women's football competitions this year.