Seipati Tlali, affectionately known by her teammates and colleagues as Candy, is a midfielder and vice-captain for Kick4Life Women. But her journey with the organisation shows that she is more than just a player. Through football and the Fit4Work&Play programme, she is gaining experiences and skills that are transforming her life far beyond the pitch.
Born and raised in Qoaling, Maseru, Seipati first discovered her passion for football in 2010, inspired by South African legend Portia Modise. What began as casual street football soon grew into something more serious when, at just 10 years old, she joined Emmanuel FC in her community. She went on to play there for five years before joining Kick4Life in August 2015, encouraged by her primary school coach who wanted her to take her talent to the next level.
She refers to being part of Kick4Life as a blessing. It has not only developed her abilities on the pitch but also nurtured her personal growth, instilling discipline, life skills and character. Her football highlights include scoring unforgettable goals, lifting the Lesotho Women’s Super League trophy in the 2024/25 season, and helping the club make history by qualifying for the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers in Johannesburg from 22–31 August 2025, the team’s first-ever appearance on that stage.
In 2023 she embraced the challenge of leadership by becoming vice-captain, a role she describes as demanding but rewarding. She has also represented Lesotho on three occasions, twice with the U20s and once with the senior women’s team, Mehalalitoe, earning individual honours along the way, such as Most Improved Player in 2021 and Player of the Tournament at the Lisa Games in 2022.
Yet Seipati’s journey is not only about football. Like many Kick4Life players, she has embraced opportunities provided by the Fit4Work&Play programme, which prepares players for life beyond the game. She has gained valuable work experience across different parts of the organisation, starting at the back of the house in the No.7 Restaurant in 2022, before joining the Housekeeping team in the Hokahanya Inn, and later taking on responsibilities in the maintenance department. She also volunteers as a coach for Kick4Life’s junior women’s team, and cherishes giving back to her local community and orphanages through community service.
Each of these roles equips Seipati with important lessons. Working in the No.7 Restaurant kitchen showed her how to operate in a fast-paced environment and as part of a team. At Hokahanya Inn she gained confidence in hospitality and communication, while her work in maintenance has equipped her with practical skills such as electrical work and general repairs. She now applies these skills at home, where she takes pride in being more hands-on and responsible. “Kick4Life has changed me from someone with no direction into a responsible adult,” she said in her reflection of the above.
Seipati values the Fit4Work&Play programme highly, recognising its importance for youth in a context where unemployment is high. She hopes that in the future, trainees like her can transition into permanent employment after gaining relevant skills. For now, she continues to expand her horizons, learning more about coaching under the guidance of her former coach and her current coach at Kick4Life, Coach Elizabeth Yelimala.
Her debut experience at the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers in Johannesburg remains a standout part of her journey, she says. Competing against some of the best teams in Southern Africa gave her insight into how other clubs operate and how players should carry themselves both in victory and defeat. For Seipati, the greatest lesson was resilience and she expressed this in the following words: “Losing is not the end of the road; it’s a chance to prepare better and come back stronger.”
From a young girl playing street football in Qoaling to becoming a trailblazer on and off the pitch, Seipati Tlali is a shining example of how Kick4Life is empowering players to be more than just players.
