By Masilo Malakwane
QWAQWA – The newly elected chairperson of Thabo Mofutsanayana Sports Recreation Council Abby Lethoba says the region is on a quest to promote up and coming footballers and afford them an opportunity to participate in the topflight playoffs.
Lethoba was commenting on the ‘confidence-boosting’ state of football in the district during the provincial rural soccer tournament that was held at Phuthaditjhaba stadium last Saturday. He said the council is currently working with government to host a number of sports tournaments in rural areas to nurture stars that will excel everywhere in the world.
“It is no secret that Thabo Mofutsanayana has produced outstanding football stars like Thembinkosi Lorch, Teboho Mokoena, Sipho Mbule and Vincent Pule,” he said.
However, Lethoba lamented that sports development in the province.
“It is unfortunate that the province no longer has a team playing in the DSTV Premier league after the sale of Bloemfontein Celtic and the relegation of the Free State Stars.”
The chairperson of the Free State Sports Council, Tiger Seboko, is also confident that the sports council will commit itself to develop young talent in all sporting codes and administration.
“We are confident that we will be able to promote teams from the amateur leagues to at least get promotional to the topflight league‚” Seboko said.
Meanwhile, the MEC of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Limakatso Mahasa, says the department is working together with all football representatives – from major teams across the country – to assist in tapping the ‘incredible’ talents through this Rural Soccer Tournament.
“I was saddened by the sale of Bloemfontein Celtic, but we are currently monitoring our teams playing in Motsepe League. Hopefully, we might get one promoted to the topflight football soon.” Mahasa said.
She also shed some light regarding the long-standing developments surrounding the refurbishment of Charles Mopeli stadium, indicating that the construction is nearing completion.
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