Ncheke takes the reign

MASERU-Newly-elected Lesotho Volleyball Association (LVA) president Lehlohonolo Ncheke wants to revive the association and develop the game in the country.
Ncheke was elected unopposed last weekend at the LVA’s elective conference and has asked for 100 days to put together a strategic plan for the next four years in office.

Ncheke said after those three months he plans to call a special annual general meeting (AGM) to present the LVA’s plans.
Ncheke is seen as a breath of fresh air by volleyball followers who say they are confident the association is finally led by someone who understands them.
The previous committee came under fire last year when they were accused of being lazy.

The LVA even failed to meet a deadline late in 2020 by the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC) for associations to present plans to return to competition after the government gave sports the greenlight following a seven-month long shutdown because of the pandemic.
With Ncheke at the helm, there is a sense of renewed hope for the association.

On Wednesday, Ncheke told thepost the new committee plans to meet with volleyball’s stakeholders which include the LSRC, Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), sponsors, Volleyball Africa and World Volleyball.
He said it is important to include them in the LVA’s plans.
“For our volleyball we are looking mostly at development and marketing volleyball in order to get funds to help with our plans,” Ncheke said.

“The competitions we used to have in past years were driven by the activeness of schools, volleyball is very active at the high school level. People were coming from high schools with experience and then they went into the league but lately it’s not happening,” he added.
Ncheke’s committee also aims to meet with school associations such as Lesotho Public Service Staff Association (LEPSSA) and Lesotho Institutions Sport Association (LISA) to find a way to bring back excitement around volleyball.

“Part of our plan it is to get to associations like LEPSSA and LISA and talk with them to see what we can do to bring back that excitement about volleyball,” Ncheke said.
“When we have primary schools (involved) then we will have a lot of athletes playing and when we are in that level the marketing we are talking about comes in, we host lots of competitions,” he explained.

Ncheke said for the coming four years his committee will be in the office they plan to send out coaches to train teachers at school level and also introduce a “proper, healthy” league for schools.
Other members that were elected and will serve with Ncheke are Masoli Khoanyane, who is vice-president administration, Tanki Nkaki, vice-president technical, ‘Mathato Machele, vice-president finance while the secretary general, Sebolelo Ntlhokoe, was re-elected to her position.

“For these four years I want our volleyball to have a proper development programme. We want to have coaches going around in high and primary schools to train teachers and have a league with following at schools level,” he said.

The plan also includes reviving the national volleyball team.
“I want us to have a clear planning,” Ncheke said.
“We are looking to have a proper administration of our volleyball. It’s been long since we had a national team, they should come back.”

Tlalane Phahla