Lesotho Girls U-20 coach Tjamela Tjamela says he is honoured to lead the Senior Women’s National Team, Mehalalitoe, at the Four Nations Tournament in Zambia.
The Roma-born coach has come through the ranks at LeFA, having coached several of its youth teams over the years.
In 2021, he guided the Lesotho Girls U-17 team, Lishoeshoe, to the final of the COSAFA U-17 Championship. He has now been roped in to oversee Mehalalitoe following the expiry of the previous head coach’s mandate.
“It’s a task that came with mixed emotions, but for the Association to pick me out of so many talented and capable coaches, it’s really an honour to lead Mehalalitoe at the Four Nations Tournament. Such opportunities don’t come every day and I’m really humbled,” Tjamela said.
“The Association saw the need to rope me in to steer this ship for the Four Nations Tournament in Zambia. The focus is only on that tournament, which is a platform to expose the talent we have in this country by benchmarking against teams that have reached a high level,” he added.
Tjamela said the tournament gives his side a chance to test themselves against top teams in the region and continent, with several nations using it to prepare for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Kenya and Zambia.
“As we speak, some of these countries are preparing for the Women’s elite tournament on the continent, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which is in Kenya and Zambia,” he said.
He however bemoaned the absence of key players, though he is happy with how the squad has responded since reporting to camp. Tjamela stated that his squad selection has been affected by exams, while injuries have ruled out experienced campaigners like Mosele Pita and Nteboheleng Ramatsoku.
“In the short time we have been together, I’m happy with the work rate, the commitment, the intensity and above all, how they have been engaging in everything we do,” he said.
“By the look of things, the Women Super League run-in was very competitive, and, in the process, we lost some experienced players that we would have wanted in the team, to mention a few like Mosele Pita and Nteboheleng Ramatsoku,” he added.
