At Kick4Life, we’re committed to helping young people reach their full potential, not only as athletes but as leaders and professionals beyond the game. Our Fit4WorkAndPlay programme is central to this mission, providing players with career development opportunities alongside football. A powerful example of this transformation is Mats’eliso Mosala, a defender in our senior women’s team whose journey is a testament to resilience, hard work, and growth.
Mats’eliso was born in Malumeng, Mafeteng. After losing her mother at the age of seven, she moved to Maseru to live with her uncle, where she continued her education until completing primary school. In 2012, she returned to Mafeteng to begin high school, and it was during this time, growing up among football-loving cousins, that her passion for the game began to take shape.
She first played competitively in 2014 and continued through to 2016. Though she took a break from football during her early tertiary studies, her love for the sport never faded. Watching the Women’s Super League kept her connected, and in 2019, she made the decision to pursue football seriously once again, this time with Kick4Life.
“I was really inspired by Kick4Life’s style of play,” Mats’eliso says. “I saw players who truly understood the game. And I knew this was the one team that offered real opportunities, even the chance to go abroad, that motivated me.”
She joined K4L in March 2019, officially signed in August, and spent the next few seasons working her way into the team. In 2023, she broke into the starting eleven, embracing new defensive roles and showing her versatility by playing right back, left back and eventually Centre back, where she continues to shine.
The 2024/25 season was a major breakthrough for Mats’eliso, both personally and professionally. She was part of the Kick4Life Women’s team that won the Lesotho Women’s Super League, marking her biggest achievement in football to date, and she is now looking forward to the upcoming Women’s Champions League COSAFA Zonal Qualifiers taking place in Johannesburg from 22-31 August.
“It’s been a season of growth for me. I wasn’t getting much game time before, but when I got my chance, I promised myself I’d make the most of it,” she reflects. “That mindset, and a commitment to discipline and hard work, helped me raise my game.”
Beyond the pitch, Mats’eliso has also grown through the Fit4WorkAndPlay programme. After graduating in 2021 from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology with an associate degree in Hotel Management, she was encouraged to volunteer within Kick4Life’s Social Enterprises. She started at Front Desk in 2020, and later took on the roles of No.7 restaurant admin, Front of House server, and most recently, a trainee Chef. These experiences not only provided a small income but also helped her to develop key transferable and vocational skills that have strengthened her career prospects and employability.
“Kick4Life has helped me so much. The work experience, the stipend, it’s helped me get by, and now my CV looks stronger than ever. In a time when jobs are hard to come by, that support means everything,” she shares.
Mats’eliso’s journey is a shining example of what it means to be more than a player. At Kick4Life, we’re proud to stand behind athletes like her, players who are chasing their dreams, on and off the pitch, with determination and purpose.
