The Mohale’s Hoek District Football Association (DiFA) held trials for the under-17 and under-19 players.
The trials took place at DiFA Mohale’s Hoek Stadium from December 29 to 30.
The main purpose of the trials was to have enough pool of competitive youngsters who can play for the junior national teams like Bahlabani (the Under-17 side) and Makoanyane XI (the Under-20 side).
According to one of the Mohale’s Hoek based coaches, Bafokeng Mohapi, who is also the Makoanyane XI and Majantja coach, the players who would be selected from the trials will join DiFA Mohale’s Hoek’s Academy.
“For the under-17, the trials were opened for players who were born in 2008 and 2009, and players who were born in 2006 and 2007 for the under-19,” said Mohapi in an interview last Sunday.
Mohapi said initially, the trials were supposed to take three days, starting from December 28, but because of poor attendance on the first day, they had to delay them until the following day.
“To be honest, we had few players on the first day (December 28) and we could not start.
“We postponed them until the following day of December 29 and continued on December 30.”
Mohapi said the intention was to have the under-17 and under-19 teams, with the main purpose being to have competitive players who can to be selected to the Under-17 and Under-20 national teams.
He said they were going to ask DiFA Mohale’s Hoek to help them with friendly matches outside the country as well as securing sponsorships for both teams.
“We would like it if they would secure sponsorships and not rely on LeFA (Lesotho Football Association).
“LeFA is doing its duty as the football mother-body and we too should do something for the development of our district teams.”
Mohapi said the trials, which were attended by about 38 players in general, were successful.
However, he said they were wanted many players.
“We wanted to have many players, about 60 or 90. That is why from the beginning the trials were supposed to take three days, but that was the start.”
Mohapi said DiFA Mohale’s Hoek’s Academy was not necessarily a feeder team for Majantja.
He said the intention was for the youngsters to have a good coaching so that it would be easy for them to join any team.
“There is no doubt that Majantja will benefit from this academy as the district team, but the main purpose is for these youngsters to have a good coaching so that it will be easy for them to impress other teams, not necessarily Majantja.”