Lesotho set to host first ever wrestling training

NTHAKO MAJORO

MASERU – Lesotho is set to host the first ever technical wrestling training for coaches and referees in the country.According to the Secretary General of the Wrestling Association of Lesotho, Fetang Selialia, the training will be conducted by a professional wrestling trainer, Dr Moagi Sharp, from Botswana.Sharp is also the president of the Botswana Wrestling Federation.Selialia, who is also the president of the Federation of Lesotho Rugby (FLR) and the Public Relations Officer for the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), said the training would take place at Setsoto Stadium from November 7 to 11 this year.

“Dr Moagi Sharp will arrive in the country on November 6 and leave on November 12,” Selialia said in an interview with Public Eye.“He is going to conduct a training of coaches as well as conducting officiating training.”Selialia further said: “This is going to be the first ever technical wrestling coaching training and officiating in the history of Lesotho.”Selialia said both trainings would be open to everybody, including local wrestling players. So far, there are two wrestling clubs in the country, namely Game Changers and Tenacious.

“We want the trainings to be opened to everybody and invitations will be issued starting from next week.“Our aim is to have as many people as we can since the main target is to have wrestlers in all of the districts in the country.”Wrestling Association of Lesotho is currently a provisional member of the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), and yet to register with the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC).

Selialia said the local wrestling organization was also looking to affiliate with the United World Wrestling, and said for that to happen, his organization must be recognized by LNOC.This means the local wrestling mother-body will only become a member of the United World Wrestling after they become full members of the National Olympic Committee.Selialia is confident that local wrestlers would be the first ones to win Olympic medals for the country soon.“I think wrestling is the most suitable game for Basotho and as a result we are likely to be the first ones to win Olympic medals for Lesotho,” he said.Selialia said Sharp’s trip to Lesotho would be funded by LNOC, including accommodation and transport.