The Lesotho Football Association (LEFA), in collaboration with the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), has officially launched the Football for Schools (F4S) program in Lesotho. This initiative, which is part of FIFA’s global strategy to integrate football into educational systems, while educating the youth on life skills, aims to make football more accessible to young boys and girls aged 6 to 12 by embedding the sport within primary school curriculums.
The F4S program, which has already reached over 31 million children worldwide since its inception in 2022, kicked off in Lesotho with a specialized coaching course held at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena. The course was attended by 50 primary school teachers from across the country and was conducted by FIFA instructors from Spain, who arrived in Lesotho earlier this week.
Santonio Sanchez, one of the FIFA instructors leading the training, emphasized the dual focus of the F4S program. “We aim to teach kids not only how to play football but also to instill important life skills that extend beyond the pitch,” Sanchez explained. Over the three day course, Sanchez and his team shared their experiences and trained the teachers on using the ‘Football 4 Schools’ app, which provides detailed guidance on conducting their lessons. The goal is for these teachers to bring the knowledge and skills they acquired back to their respective schools, helping to foster the next generation of footballers in Lesotho.
The program aligns with LEFA’s strategic vision of making football more accessible to both boys and girls across the country. Key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Sports, and the Lesotho Primary Schools Sports Association (LEPSSA), have played a vital role in rolling out this initiative. The collaborative effort reflects a broader commitment to integrating sports into the educational framework, offering children from all backgrounds the opportunity to participate in football and sports in general.
Minister of Sports, Motlatsi Maqelepo, expressed his strong support for the program, highlighting its potential to positively impact the lives of young people across Lesotho. “This program gives less fortunate children a chance to play the game they love,” Maqelepo said. He also expressed hope that similar initiatives could be developed for other sports, emphasizing the importance of nurturing well-rounded individuals through the combination of sports and life skills education. Maqelepo believes that these efforts are essential steps toward seeing more of Lesotho’s athletes on the international stage.
As the F4S program continues to unfold, there is optimism that it will not only enhance the football skills of young Sotho boys and girls but also equip them with valuable life lessons like respect and teamwork, that will serve them well beyond their school years. With ongoing support from FIFA and local stakeholders, the launch of thus initiative has the potential to leave a lasting legacy in Lesotho’s education and sports sectors.
