Chris Theko
Only one gold medal from this year’s Confederation of School Sport Association in Southern Africa (Cossasa) Athletics Champions for Lesotho.
The tournament was held in eSwatini.
The winning streak for Lesotho declined, compared to the four gold medals it won last year’s competition.
Overall, Lesotho brought home 8 medals, four silvers medals, three bronze and a single gold medal.
This year’s tournament saw Thapelo Mosala winning the gold medal in the 100m race, clocking 12.05.
Lesotho’s hopes were high that the upcoming star ‘Manqabang Tsibela would continue to shine after winning two gold medals last year in the 1500m and 800m race, but unfortunately she only managed a bronze medal in the 3000m race.
Thebe Semoko who grabbed a 3000m gold medal last year, was expected to defend the spot, but that was not the case as he settled for second place winning a silver medal. Semoko also went for a bronze in the 1500m.
Another bronze medal came from Tanki Molefi in men 3000m while ‘Mamakoli Senauoane won two silver medals in 400m and 200m racs respectively.
Out of the six countries that were competing, Lesotho finished fourth after Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Zambia and the host eSwatini settled for position five and six in the order given.
Lesotho was represented by a total of 50 athletes from high school level under the Lesotho Institutions Sports Association (Lisa) and primary level under the Lesotho Primary School Sports Association (LEPSSA).
In an interview with this publication, Lisa Secretary General Phoshuli Phoshuli mentioned that Lesotho did not have good preparations for this year’s edition due to financial constraints and the teachers’ strike.
Unlike other countries that arrived in eSwatini weeks before the competitions commenced, Lesotho arrived just a day before.
He agreed that Lesotho’s performance dropped due to lack of training.
Phoshuli added that some of their medal potentials like Thebe suffered fatigue as they were involved in other big tournaments prior to the Cossasa games.
