Mpolokeng Liphamamo, affectionately known as ‘Lipopi’, hails from the Hospital Area in Mafeteng, Lesotho. Her love for football was nurtured from an early age, by a family passionate about the sport. As a child, she and her family would often listen to football broadcasts on the radio — moments that sparked her lifelong dream to play the game herself. In 2015, while still attending secondary school, she began her journey in organised football by joining Bantu Ladies FC- then known as Mafeteng Sisters FC. With the unwavering support from her father and brother, Mpolokeng gained the confidence and encouragement to pursue the sport more seriously.
In January 2020, she relocated to Maseru to pursue tertiary studies, bringing her closer to Kick4Life. She officially joined the club during the second half of the 2019/20 season and quickly established herself as a dependable midfielder, recognised for her precise passing and exceptional ball control. A significant milestone in her career was being part of the Kick4Life squad that triumphed in the 2021 Dare to Dream tournament, becoming national champions for the first time.
When asked why she chose Kick4Life, Mpolokeng remarked that the organisation stood out for its mission-led approach. Unlike traditional clubs, Kick4Life offers educational support and life skills development – something she deeply values. “Choosing Kick4Life wasn’t just about football,” she reflects, “it was about choosing a career path and a life path.”
Mpolokeng’s journey with Kick4Life extends far beyond her contributions on the pitch. In 2022, she became a life skills coach through the organisation’s Lesotho United programme. In this role, she was trained to deliver educational interventions to children and young people in local schools and communities, covering topics such as human rights, preventing gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, and developing transferable employability skills.
“For me, being a life skills coach means being a role model – someone that young people can look up to as a symbol of strength, hope and success,” she says. “It’s also a chance to develop key skills in facilitation, coaching, and leadership – skills that can also be applied on the pitch to model me into a better player.”
In June 2024, Mpolokeng further deepened her engagement with Kick4Life by volunteering as a tutor in the organisation’s Academy. What began as an effort to gain teaching experience quickly evolved into a true passion – particularly for tutoring the Sesotho language, as she realised her ability to make the subject engaging and accessible for students. Affectionately called ‘Madam Lipopi’ by her Academy pupils, this year Mpolokeng tutored a number of Grade 11 learners, helping two of them to achieve ‘A’ grades in their final examinations.
“Being an academic tutor means so much to me,” she reflects. “Supporting students through their struggles and witnessing their progress is incredibly fulfilling. I am grateful to Kick4Life for offering me the platform to make a difference and to explore my full potential.”
In recognition of her great work tutoring Sesotho, Mpolokeng was selected to deliver a Welsh-Sesotho language exchange session during the Wrexham Tour to Lesotho in February 2025, introducing the visitors to basic Sesotho phrases, as well as facilitating a session on Lesotho’s history and culture, showcasing her deep knowledge and pride in her heritage. Furthermore, during the second round of the 2024/25 Women’s Super League season, Mpolokeng volunteered in the team’s kitchen, preparing meals for players on match days. Despite the early mornings, her on-field performance soared, and she scored several winning goals as the team secured the title undefeated.
With her evident self-discipline and commitment to excellence, Mpolokeng has proven her ability to balance roles as a player, tutor, life skills coach, and volunteer. And all of this alongside recently completing her Diploma in Education at the Lesotho College of Education, where she graduated as one of the top performers in her class. With her career plans taking shape, and with Kick4Life Women looking ahead to a new season and the opportunity to defend their title, the future looks bright for Mpolokeng – on and off the pitch.
