LASA Awards to be “bigger and better” in 2018

The LASA awards will be bigger and better in 2018...
Last year the big winner was Lesotho women's captain Boitumelo Rabale

The Lesotho Annual Sports Awards (LASA) will be back for a second edition in March and organisers are promising a “bigger and better’ event.

The ceremony will be held on March 17 and, according to organisers, this year will see the awards held at a larger venue with more nominees than 2017’s inaugural event.

The awards are hosted by the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) and are held to motivate athletes and improve the levels of competition across the country’s various sporting codes.

The main change for 2018 is the moving of the awards show from AVANI Maseru to Manthabiseng Convention Centre, a move intended to accommodate more guests as Malitsietsi Zwakala – LSRC development coordinator and awards organising committee member – explained.

“We learnt a lot from our first event which was held in April last year,” she said.

“Expectations are very high for the next awards,” she added. “We are changing the venue from AVANI Maseru to the (Manthabiseng) convention centre because last time we ended up turning people away because the venue got full.”

Another upgrade from the organisers’ point of view is an increase in sponsors. The LSRC has so far secured sponsorships from MGC, Brand It and Lesotho Flour Mills.

Zwakala said the LSRC is still on the hunt for even more sponsors.

“Sponsorship is very important to us, and every company is welcome to lend a helping hand,” she said.

“This event is not included in our annual budget from the ministry so it solely depends on sponsorship. So, we need as many corporates as we can on board. MGC, Brand It and Lesotho Flour Mills have pledged to sponsor this event as they did in the previous one.”

The awards are also returning with a few new categories.

The returning categories from last year are:

·         the Junior Female and Male Sportsperson of the Year,

·         Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year,

·         Sportsman and Sportswoman with Disability,

·         Administrator of the Year,

·         Sports School of the Year,

·         Sports Team of the Year,

·         Coach of the Year,

·         Umpire or Referee of the Year,

·         Sports Journalist of the Year,

·         Sport Legacy of the Year,

and the most prestigious trophy – the Sports Star of the Year which last year was won by Lesotho and Bloemfontein Ladies captain Boitumelo Rabale.

The new prizes for 2018 are the newcomer, volunteer and national federation of the year.

Tickets for the LASA awards will range from M300 to M350 and will be sold until the end of February.