Chris Theko
The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) President Advocate Salemane Phafane (KC), has expressed his gratitude for the commitment and dedication with which the association’s outgoing Deputy Secretary-General Chris Bullock served the Lesotho football fraternity.
‘Ntate Mohale’, as Bullock came to be known in line with an age-old Basotho practice of giving foreigners vernacular names as a sign of welcoming them- served LeFA since his appointment in September 2020.
“Mr Bullock has served the Association with great distinction in the time that he was with us. On behalf of everyone at LeFA, I would like to sincerely thank him for his tireless work and dedication.
“He has contributed massively to football in Lesotho since arriving here in 2013 and the Kingdom will always be his second home,” Phafane said.
Bullock officially resigned from his position at LeFA citing personal commitment issues which will necessitate his return to his native country England, following inter alia his recent marriage.
The news of his resignation was announced by LeFA in a statement citing his desire to return to his home country England.
“The Lesotho Football Association informs the football fraternity that Mr. Chris Bullock will step down from his role as the Deputy Secretary General to relocate to England in the month of August on account of family commitments and new obligations after recently tying the knot.
“As a result, Mr. Bullock has requested to be released from duty by the end of July,” the statement said.
Bullock, has been working in Lesotho since 2013, when he came to take over the management of Kick4Life as Country Director, a role he assumed for the next seven years until 2020 when he was appointed to the LeFA position.
In an interview with Newsday Sports this week, Bullock said that though necessary, the decision to live the Mountain Kingdom to his kingdom of origin was not a very easy one as Lesotho had steadily turned into home for him as well.
“This, I must say, was not one of my easiest decisions to make because over the years, Lesotho has become my home. In the last nine years this country has given me so much and now that I have friends and family here I will obviously be visiting quite frequently,” Bullock said.
In his stint at Kick4Life, he recorded such highlights as overseeing the promotion of the side’s senior team to the premier league within just a single year in 2014. The team would remain in the top flight until this year when it sold its status to Majantja.
He also oversaw setting up the Kick4Life women’s team which has been competing in the Lesotho Women Super League (WSL), which he has also diligently served as Committee Chairperson as well as being Lesotho National Women’s Football Committee Secretary General.
Bullock expressed his gratitude to LeFA for giving him the opportunity to serve the football governing body in the Kingdom.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity which LeFA gave me to be able to make a contribution towards the growth of football in Lesotho,” Bullock said.
“I have really loved the last two years with the Association and it really is with a heavy heart, that I have made the decision to step down and leave a country that has given me so much and feels like home to me.
Meanwhile, Bullock feels that with the time he has spent in the country, Lesotho is on the right track towards professionalising the sport although “… a lot still has to be done by all those involved in it”
“My dream is to see Lesotho grow the game to make it fully professional where all stakeholders from players, coaches, referees and administrators can make a living from the game and Basotho can celebrate all their national teams’ success,” he said.
He said he will continue supporting projects he was involved in from England.
Apart from football, Bullock was also involved in the team that supports long-distance runner ‘Manqabang Tsibela. The support team led by Bullock saw Tsibela securing sponsors that included French based company, Decathlon- France and All-For-One Sport.
Tsibela has since made her way into team Lesotho which will be heading to England, Birmingham for the Commonwealth games where she will be making her debut on the senior international stage.
