THE Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) was not impressed by comments that taekwondo international, Michelle Tau recently made on social media platforms regarding her inability to attend some international tournaments she was eyeing.

Tau who is currently based in Brussels, Belgium recently wrote on her Facebook page that she missed two international competitions, one in Canada and another in the United States due to a lack of funds.

The country’s top female taekwondo star further wrote that she was most likely to miss two more tournaments, in the Netherlands and Belgium.

“I already missed two competitions, in Canada and the USA, and sadly I will also miss the Dutch (Netherlands) and Belgium competitions. I’m heartbroken,” reads Tau’s comments.

Tau, 25, is one of Lesotho’s athletes currently on an Olympic Solidarity Sponsorship through the help of LNOC.

The sponsorship is meant to help local athletes to qualify for the Olympic Games scheduled for Paris, France next year. 

Tau is arguably the highest-paid athlete on the Olympic Solidary Sponsorship.

She reportedly earns more than M20 000 per month.

Asked to comment on the issue, LNOC Public Relations Officer, Fetang Selialia, said his organisation could not fund all of Tau’s trips as there were other athletes who also needed support in their quest to qualify for the same Olympic Games.

“I understand she has submitted her plan, but unfortunately LNOC cannot afford to fund all of her trips,” said Selialia in an interview with Public Eye on Monday this week.

“There are other athletes who also need support in their quest to qualify for the same Olympic Games.”

Selialia further said: “We wished she had approached us about this before she went to social media. Maybe we could have helped her secure the funding she requires, who knows.”

He, however, promised that the LNOC would continue supporting Tau.

 “We will continue supporting her because our plan is to see her representing Lesotho at the 2024 Olympic Games.”

LNOC financially supported Tau’s trips to two international tournaments held in Egypt, the President’s Cup and Egypt Open last month.

She won gold and silver at the Egypt Open and President’s Cup respectively.

“We support Tau and other athletes who are on the Olympic Solidarity Sponsorship. We want to support her achieve her goals.”

But Selialia was quick to note that they expect their athletes to conduct themselves professionally and to follow Olympics values, which include excellence, respect, and friendships.

Despite the fracas that ensued, Tau, however, never spoke ill of the LNOC in the comments she made on social media.

“In all her comments, she does not blame the LNOC for anything. That is why we could not make any statement regarding her social media comments until now when you want our side of the story,” said Selialia.