Phafane yet to confirm FIFA bounce back

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) president, Advocate Salemane Phafane, is expected to confirm his return to the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) sub-committees.

This is after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recommended Phafane to serve in the global football governing body’s Disciplinary Committee of FIFA.

Phafane, who is a former Vice President of the Confederation of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA), has served in FIFA’s Legal Committee previously, dating back from 2012. LeFA Media Officer, Mikia Kalati, said Phafane was yet to confirm his bounce back in the FIFA sub-committees.

“Yes, our president, Salemane Phafane, has got one more opportunity to serve in one of the committees of FIFA, in particular in the disciplinary committee,” said Kalati in an interview. “And he is yet to respond whether he accepts the responsibility or not.”

Kalati said Phafane had an option to accept or reject the offer. He said that would depend on his work commitments. Kalati further said: “He will respond to CAF’s recommendation and after that FIFA will confirm it.

And you will remember that he served in the legal committee of FIFA in the previous years, and so for him it would be the first time to serve football in the highest level.” Meanwhile, LeFA has also released a statement regarding the recommendation of CAF for Phafane to serve in the committee.

The statement, headlined ‘LeFA President recommended for FIFA role’ reads: “Please be informed that LeFA President Salemane Phafane (KC) has been recommended by CAF to serve in yet another important position in the Disciplinary Committee of FIFA.

“Further details on the subject will be provided in due course. LeFA congratulates its President and grateful that a son of the soil is being considered for a position of such great importance by the world governing body.”

LeFA further indicated in the statement that Phafane would not be new to serving football at the highest level having previously served two terms as COSAFA Vice President and also in the Legal Committee of FIFA.

LeFA has also revealed in a separate announcement that its officials Tšeliso Ramatla and Mokhosi Mohapi, together with the President of the District Football Association (DIFA) of Thaba-Tseka, Kekeletsa Kekeletsa, last weekend visited a site where the latter’s organisation has been allocated land for a football pitch and offices.

The mulled pitch and offices construction project is similar to the association’s Bambatha Tšita head office, Mohale’s Hoek and Maputsoe football grounds through the FIFA Forward Project. LeFA further revealed that DIFA Berea has also secured land to be developed into offices and sporting facility through the same FIFA project.

“DIFA Berea has also secured their own land, which will also in the near future be developed into offices and a sport facility that will host sports activities for all clubs in the Berea district,” reads the statement.