Team Lesotho leaves for Commonwealth Games

MASERU – On Sunday, Team Lesotho left for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. The games start today and will run until August 8. Lesotho will be represented by a total of 21 athletes in five sporting codes and the sports the country will compete in are athletics, para-athletics (discus), boxing, cycling and weightlifting.

The team has settled in Birmingham and says it is ready to compete at the global games held every four years. Motlokoa Nkhabutlane, one of the country’s most decorated marathon runners, says the challenges the team has faced in the lead up to the Games will not stop them from fighting for victory.

“We are prepared to do what we have come here for. Although there are things I cannot say, I will leave that to the management. We have to do what we need to do as athletes because delays can demotivate us when we meet with countries that are highly prepared,” Nkhabutlane said.

“It is important to prepare on time from home and even when we are here (at the games), but those challenges will not stop us from fighting for what we came here for. It’s my first time (at the Commonwealth Games) and I would be happy to do well,” he added.

For boxer Moroke Mokhotho this will be his last international competition after he announced back in March that he will be retiring to focus on sport development after the Birmingham Games.

The 31-year-old from Lifajaneng has represented Lesotho in several international championships including the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mokhotho will be competing in the 57kg featherweight category.

“I am so ready to start my journey, I am ready to do what I came here for, and to do all it takes to reach finals,” Mokhotho said.

“Hopefully I will walk away with the gold medal since it has been my dream to. Physically, mentally I am all good and set.”

In the para-athletics (discus) Lesotho will be represented by Limpho Khotlele whose coach, Thabiso Ratšoane, has described as upbeat. He said they are going into the competition expecting to win, like every other athlete.

“We are prepared, we have done (the preparations). We are now in the competition. We left home in fighting spirits; we are expecting to fight with everything we have,” Ratšoane said.

“The expectation when you go into a competition is to win. We are no different, we expect the same. We use strength to throw.”

Athletes representing the country at this year’s Commonwealth Games are Lerato Sechele (triple jump), ‘Mathakane Letsie (5 000m and 10 000m), Mokulubete Makatisi (marathon), ‘Manqabang Tsibela (1 500m and 800m), ‘Neheng Khatala (10 000m), Mojela Koneshe (100m and 200m), Tšepo Mathibelle (marathon), Lebenya Nkoka (marathon), Tebello Ramakongoana (10 000m/marathon), Motlokoa Nkhabutlane (marathon), Limpho Khotlele (discus), Retšelisitsoe Kolobe (boxing 51kg), Moroke Mokhotho (boxing 57kg), Qhobosheane Mohlerepe (63.3kg), Phomolo Lengola (boxing 54kg), Arena Pakela (boxing 71kg), Phetetso Monese and Tumelo Makae (cycling, mountainbike), Kabelo Makatile and Teboho Khantši (cycling, road), Thapelo Sebota (weightlifting, 61kg).

Lesotho has competed in 11 Commonwealth Games beginning in 1974 and missing only the 1982 Games. Lesotho’s first medal was a gold medal in the men’s marathon, won by Thabiso Moqhali in 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

It remains Lesotho’s only gold medal at the Games. The country’s other medal successes are a boxing bronze for Ezekiel Letuka at the 2002 Manchester Games in England and a boxing silver medal for Moses Kopo four years later in Melbourne, Australia.

Tlalane Phahla