Morakane secures US scholarship
Kick4Life women's player, Morakane Mokhothu, will soon fly to the United States of America to begin a student-athlete scholarship at Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina where she will play football alongside studying Business Management.
With a fully-funded scholarship secured by Kick4Life,18-year-old Morakane, who plays as a striker, will be based at the university for four years.
Morakane first got involved with K4L in 2015 and quickly progressed through the club's junior system, being called up for the national U17 squad. Having progressed to K4L's senior women's team she was subsequently selected for Mehalalitoe - Lesotho's national senior women’s team, where she was the youngest player at the time. In the 2019/20 season she was the top scorer in the Women's Super League, and she was part of the K4L squad which won the title in 2020/21.
Off the pitch, Morakane, has been a life-skills coach for Kick4Life, helping to deliver community programmes for children and young people in the local community which cover gender rights, life-skills development and health education.
At a press event at the Kick4Life Centre, Morakane said: "I am where I am today because of my love for football and because of the confidence I have. I am always focused on my goals, and the discipline I apply on my academics, I am always sure to apply on the pitch, during games and training sessions. I am very thankful to the schools I went to because they are a part of my success today. I would also like to thank Kick4Life for the support and opportunity they have given me to study and play in the US. Most importantly, I and grateful to my parents who have always supported me in my football and academic journey."
Kick4Life’s Country Director, Motlatsi Nkhahle, expressed his delight for this young player to be leaving to pursue her dreams and appealed to other youngsters to use her example of hard work and dedication as inspiration. He also emphasised the qualities needed to secure a scholarship of this nature - football skills, academic performance and, most importantly - good character - as it creates a vital balance between the football and academic components. Kick4Life senior women's Head Coach, Elizabeth Yelimala, stated that Morakane has demonstrated these qualities since joining the club with discipline both on and off the pitch.
Mr & Mrs Mokhothu – Morakane's parents - emotionally thanked their daughter’s previous school teachers for contributing in the different ways they did in Morakane’s life. They also thanked Kick4Life for the opportunity they gave to their daughter to spread her wings and fly. They expressed their gratitude to the organization for its support throughout the years. Mr. Mokhothu urged her daughter to represent her country where she will be and to open doors for more Basotho children by showing the world that there is a lot football talent in Lesotho.
We would like to say a special thank you to Tailored for Education for supporting Morakane with her school uniform throughout her high school education.
