sports

May 31, 2019

3 min read

’Maseribane allays Region 5 Games fears

’Maseribane allays Region 5 Games fears

Chief Thesele Maseribane

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Chairperson of the ministerial sub-committee of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5’s Local Organising Committee, Chief Thesele 'Maseribane, has urged the members not to worry about current logistical challenges. Chief Maseribane said this at the sub committee's feedback meeting with other government ministries held at 'Manthabiseng National Convention Centre last Thursday.

He assured them that the country will hold successful AUSC Region 5 Maseru 2020 Youth Games as scheduled and urged them not to panic. “It is a national project and we have to work hard to rescue this country from embarrassment,” he stressed. Chief 'Maseribane, who is also Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, appealed to all the stakeholders to work hard in order to make the games, which have been approved by the cabinet, to be a success.

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He said if the country fails to deliver successful AUSC Region 5 Maseru 2020 Youth Games, it will be a national and international embarrassment since the eyes of the whole region will be glued on Lesotho. The sub-committee's chairperson said this after the Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation, as well as Finance Principal Secretaries Tjoetsane Seoka and Motena Ts'olo could not agree for having previously met to discuss about the financial implications of the games.

Despite Mr Seoka's resistance that he has made all the necessary documents available to the Ministry of Finance to see what projects will be required and the financial implications needed, Mrs Ts'olo denied having ever seen such documents. On the other hand, Minister of Public Works and Transport Prince Maliehe also expressed concern about the country's readiness to host successful games, saying if the AUSC Region 5 Maseru 2020 Youth Games are scheduled for December 2020, it means the country is 12 months behind schedule.

He said his ministry is responsible for carrying out infrastructure development like building the stadiums, but has not seen even the designs of such sporting facilities. Mr Maliehe said a lot is needed before the construction could start hence his worry. Chief 'Maseribane, as the sub-committee chair, was forced to adjourn the meeting while instructing the sub-committee members to remain behind in order to discuss other issues. He also ordered Mr Seoka and Mrs Ts'olo to arrange an emergency meeting to sort out their issues in order for the preparations to be on track.

Lesotho will be hosting the AUSC Region 5 Maseru 2020 Youth Games in December for the first time ever, this after Botswana which hosted the Games last year. Some members of the LOC were also present at this meeting and the Chief Executive Officer's feedback report had to be called off midway in order to give time for further consultations and meetings in order for all to be on the same page with preparations. LOC has been holding meetings with government ministries as part of bringing them on board to also be part of the preparations and pledge their support towards the successful staging of the games.

Lena

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