Commonwealth Games medallist Kopo new president of Lesotho boxing

Silver medallist Moses Kopo (left) with his fellow medallists at the
2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games

Former Commonwealth Games medallist Moses Kopo has been elected as the new president of the Lesotho Boxing Association (LeBA).

Kopo, of the Makoanyane Boxing Club, was elected at the LeBA elections which were held on Sunday.

Kopo won silver at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and he will lead LeBA for a four-year term. He replaces Takatso Ramakhula who had been president since 2012.

The post of president was contested by Kopo and Teboho Mafatle but it was a no-contest with Kopo winning all the votes.

The new executive committee has one woman, Nthati Theko, who is the vice secretary- general.

The elections were overseen by Andile Mofu who is the president of the Zone IV South African National Amateur Boxing Organisation and an executive member of the African Boxing Confederation.

“I encourage the entire committee to avoid being big-headed and remember that they are not here for their personal interests but to serve the interests of the Lesotho boxing fraternity,” Mofu said.

Moses Kopo (left) in 2006...

The elections saw Lehlohonolo Lebotsa and former secretary-general Thabiso Mokuoane elected as vice-presidents to Kopo. Lebotsa will handle technical affairs while Mokuoane will oversee the administrative side of things.

Kopo pledged to oversee an aggressive programme to develop boxing in Lesotho.

“I will work hand-in-hand with my colleagues to decentralise resources and to reach out to all boxers at grassroots levels. We will embark on training sessions in which we will go out and train upcoming boxers,” Kopo said.

New LeBA executive committee:

President	Moses Kopo
Vice-president/Admin	Thabiso Mokuoane
Vice-president/Technical	Lehlohonolo Lebotsa
Secretary General	Thapelo Motsetsela
Vice-secretary General	Nthati Theko
Treasurer	Lehlohonolo Snyman
Public Relations Officer	Katiso Tšenoli
National Coach	Sibusiso Keketsi
Sports Organiser	Phello Sofe
Members	Rethabile Mohale and Lethola Mabeta

Majantja and Swallows face off in promotion showdown

The A-Division has reached its business end...

The A-Division is now in its final stages and this weekend sees a massive game in the South Stream as promotion rivals Majantja and Swallows face off in Mohale’s Hoek on Saturday. A win for either side would put them in the driving seat for promotion to the Vodacom Premier League while defeat would probably end the loser’s top-flight dreams.

Both teams go into the game on a good run of form and undefeated in 2017. Majantja, who were Lesotho champions in 1995, lead the standings with 28 points from 15 games. Swallows are third with 26 points from 14 games.

The equation is clear for both teams: win all your remaining games and you will be playing in the Vodacom Premier League next season.

The third team in the chase for the South Stream’s single promotion spot is Van Rooyen United. The Mafeteng club are in second place with 28 points from 15 games and they will be hoping Majantja and Swallows draw. Van Rooyen are away to bottom side Quthing LMPS and they could end the weekend on top – and in control of their promotion destiny – if results go their way.

In the North Stream the picture is much clearer with Sefotha-fotha needing just four more points from their remaining three games to secure promotion to the top-flight.

This weekend Sefotha-fotha travel to Hlotse to face lowly CCX and they will be banking on securing three of those four points they require from this game.

Sefotha-fotha coach Tiisetso Molete said his charges are focused on finishing the job. Last season Sefotha-fotha suffered heartbreak as they were pipped to promotion on the last day of the season by Butha-Buthe Warriors.

“In the past, especially last year, we lost focus thinking we had already been promoted. We used to relax and complacency would kick in among my players but we are more focused now,” Molete said.

Galaxy and Lerotholi Polytechnic will be praying Sefotha-fotha relax again, however. They are the only teams that can catch-up. Second placed Galaxy face Naughty Boys on Sunday while on the same afternoon Lerotholi travel to St. Monicas to face Likila United.

A-Division Weekend Fixtures

North Stream

Saturday

CCX v Sefotha-fotha (LMPS Ground Hlotse, 15:00)

Mphatlalatsane v Roaring Lions (DiFA Stadium Maputsoe, 13:00)

Sunday

Likila United v Lerotholi Polytechnic (St. Monicas, 15:00)

Lithabaneng Golden v Limkokwing University (Lithabaneng, 15:00)

Naughty Boys v Galaxy (Kick4Life, 13:00)

South Stream

Saturday

Quthing LMPS v Van Rooyen United (Pitso Ground Quthing, 15:00)

Majantja v Swallows (DiFA Ground Mohale’s Hoek, 15:00)

Sunday

Roma Boys v Fisters (St. Theresa Roma, 15:00)

Qoaling Highlanders v Manonyane (Kick4Life 15:00)

Mangau v Melele (Nyakosoba, 15:00)

Log Standings:

North Stream

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Sefotha-fotha	15	11	2	2	29	11	18	35
2	Galaxy	15	8	5	2	27	12	15	29
3	Lerotholi Polytechnic	14	7	5	2	25	15	10	26
4	Mphatlalatsane	15	4	7	4	18	16	2	19
5	Limkokwing University	14	5	4	5	15	16	-1	19
6	Lithabaneng Golden	15	4	6	5	21	25	-4	18
7	Naughty Boys	15	3	7	5	16	20	-4	16
8	CCX	14	3	6	5	16	23	-7	15
9	Likila United	15	3	4	8	12	21	-9	7
10	Roaring Lions	14	0	4	10	8	28	-20	1

·         Roaring Lions docked 3 points for not registering on time

·         Likila United docked 6 points for late Application & Registering

South Stream

		P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts.
1	Majantja	15	7	7	1	22	14	8	28
2	Van Rooyen United	15	8	4	3	23	17	6	28
3	Swallows	14	7	5	2	24	12	12	26
4	Roma Boys	14	5	6	3	17	15	2	21
5	Manonyane	14	4	8	2	10	7	3	20
6	Qoaling Highlanders	15	6	0	9	19	25	-6	18
7	Mangau	14	4	4	6	13	16	-3	16
8	Melele	15	3	5	7	13	16	-3	11
9	Fisters	14	2	5	7	13	21	-8	11
10	Quthing LMPS	14	2	4	8	11	22	-11	10

·         Melele FC docked 3 points for not registering on time