LEFA Is Creating Opportunities for Everyone Through Inclusive Football

The Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) is showing that football can create opportunities for people from different backgrounds and abilities. This message was strongly demonstrated when renowned broadcaster Ms. Ntebaleng Mokhali, popularly known as “Noxie,” took on the role of Stadium Announcer during the recent Lesotho versus Morocco AFCON Qualifier. Her presence in such a prominent football setting represented more than an opportunity to use her broadcasting skills. It demonstrated that people living with disabilities can make meaningful contributions to football beyond playing on the pitch. Her voice echoed through the stadium and delivered a powerful message that football belongs to everyone.

Ms. Mokhali’s involvement as a Stadium Announcer offered a visible example of inclusion within Lesotho football. Stadium announcing requires clear communication, confidence and the ability to engage spectators during a major sporting event. By giving Noxie the opportunity to perform this role, LEFA created space for her professional abilities to be recognised within one of the country’s most important sporting environments. The occasion also allowed supporters to see disability from a different perspective, one that focuses on ability, talent and contribution. Her participation showed that inclusion becomes meaningful when people are given opportunities to demonstrate what they can do.

The Lesotho versus Morocco AFCON Qualifier provided an important platform for this message because football attracts people from many sections of society. Supporters attend matches to cheer for their national team, connect with other fans and share their passion for the sport. Having Noxie at the stadium as the announcer placed inclusion directly within that shared experience. Her voice became part of the match-day atmosphere while her role provided an example of how football organisations can open doors to people who may otherwise face barriers. This makes her participation significant not only for her personally but also for the wider football community in Lesotho.

Football has traditionally been associated with what happens on the pitch, including players, coaches and referees. However, the sport depends on many other people who contribute to the match-day and football experience. Broadcasters, stadium announcers, administrators, medical personnel, media professionals, volunteers and event staff all play important roles in the running of football. Creating opportunities in these areas can allow people with different skills and abilities to participate in the sport. LEFA’s decision to provide Noxie with a platform as Stadium Announcer highlights the wider range of opportunities that football can offer.

The significance of Noxie’s appearance also goes beyond one match. Visible opportunities can influence how young people and members of the wider community think about disability and participation. When people see a person with a disability performing a professional role in a major football environment, it can challenge assumptions about what that person can achieve. It can also encourage other people with disabilities to pursue opportunities in sport, media and other areas where their skills can contribute. Representation therefore has the potential to influence attitudes while encouraging greater participation.

For football in Lesotho, creating opportunities for all can strengthen the relationship between the sport and the communities it serves. Football already brings together players, supporters, families, businesses and organisations around a common interest. An inclusive approach can widen that community by ensuring that participation does not depend only on a person’s physical ability. People can contribute through their voices, professional skills, organisational abilities, creativity and other talents. This broader understanding of participation can help make football more welcoming and accessible.

Noxie’s role also highlights the importance of recognising talent outside traditional football positions. Not everyone who loves football will become a player, coach or referee. Some people may have skills in broadcasting, journalism, event management, administration or entertainment. Providing opportunities in these areas allows football organisations to benefit from a wider pool of talent. It also gives individuals the chance to build experience and confidence while contributing to the growth of the sport.

The example set during the AFCON Qualifier can be particularly meaningful for young people. Young supporters often develop ideas about what is possible by watching people around them take part in activities they value. Seeing Noxie confidently occupy a visible position in a national football event can help challenge the idea that disability should prevent someone from pursuing professional opportunities. Her participation provides a practical example of inclusion rather than simply a statement about it. This is important because meaningful inclusion depends on real opportunities, visibility and recognition.

LEFA’s approach also points to the broader role that sports organisations can play in society. Football associations have the ability to influence how people interact with sport and how communities understand participation. When they provide opportunities to people who have historically faced barriers, they can help create a more inclusive sporting environment. This does not mean removing standards or expectations because every role still requires the appropriate skills and preparation. Instead, it means ensuring that qualified and capable people have a fair opportunity to contribute.

The stadium announcement role given to Ntebaleng Mokhali also demonstrates the value of professional recognition. Noxie is already known as a broadcaster, which means the opportunity allowed her existing skills to be applied in a major football setting. Her involvement was therefore not simply symbolic because she actively performed an important function during the match. Her voice helped create the atmosphere inside the stadium while placing her abilities at the centre of the occasion. This distinction matters because genuine inclusion should provide people with meaningful responsibilities rather than simply placing them in visible positions.

The message that football is for everyone can also encourage football stakeholders to consider accessibility more broadly. Inclusive football requires attention to the experiences of players, supporters, officials, workers and professionals with different needs. It can involve creating opportunities, improving access to sporting environments and ensuring that people are treated according to their abilities rather than assumptions. While one opportunity cannot address every barrier faced by people with disabilities, it can demonstrate the value of taking practical steps toward greater inclusion. Noxie’s appearance provides an example of how a specific opportunity can carry a much wider social message.

The response to Noxie’s participation can also help reinforce the idea that football is a community sport. A national football match is watched and supported by people with different experiences and circumstances. When those communities see themselves represented in different roles, the sport can become more relatable and welcoming. Inclusion can also strengthen the sense that national football belongs to the entire country rather than to a limited group of participants. This is especially important when the national team represents Lesotho on major regional and international platforms.

There is also a valuable lesson for other sporting organisations in Noxie’s experience. Providing opportunities to people with disabilities should focus on skills, preparation and the responsibilities attached to each role. Organisations can identify areas where individuals can contribute and create pathways for them to gain experience. Such opportunities can benefit both the individual and the organisation because they bring additional skills into the sporting environment. LEFA’s example shows how inclusion can become part of the practical operation of football rather than remaining only an idea.

Noxie’s appearance as Stadium Announcer during the Lesotho versus Morocco AFCON Qualifier will therefore stand as an important example of opportunity and representation in Lesotho football. Her voice was heard by supporters in the stadium, but the message connected to her participation reached beyond the announcements made during the match. She demonstrated that disability does not define the limits of a person’s contribution to football. LEFA, by providing her with this platform, showed the value of creating opportunities based on ability and talent. Her involvement reinforced a simple but important principle: football has room for everyone.

The future of inclusive football in Lesotho will depend on continued action and not only on individual moments. More opportunities can help people with disabilities develop experience in different areas of the football industry and demonstrate their capabilities. LEFA and other football stakeholders can build on examples such as Noxie’s participation by continuing to recognise talent across the wider football environment. Inclusion can become stronger when opportunities are consistent, meaningful and connected to people’s skills. The recent AFCON Qualifier provided a powerful reminder that breaking barriers starts when organisations are willing to open the door.

Ntebaleng Mokhali’s appearance at the stadium captured what inclusive football can look like in practice. She was given a platform to use her broadcasting abilities during a major football occasion, and her presence challenged narrow ideas about who can contribute to the sport. Her voice became part of the match-day experience while her participation sent an encouraging message to people on and off the pitch. For Lesotho football, the moment represents an opportunity to keep building a culture where talent is recognised and people are not excluded because of disability. LEFA’s commitment to creating opportunities for all can help ensure that the future of football in Lesotho includes everyone who has the passion, skills and determination to contribute.