Lesotho lends itself to a bright rowing future

When South Africa’s national team needed altitude training, they went to Lesotho. There they discovered stunning lakes and dams. This was one of the reasons that recently the Lesotho Rowing Federation was formed.

Lesotho is a high-altitude country surrounded by South Africa and helping with the development of rowing in the kingdom is South Africa’s Olympic Champion rower Sizwe Ndlovu.

“I am advising the Lesotho Rowing Federation on technical aspects of the sport as well as ensuring the development of the federation,” says Ndlovu. “Currently we have about 11 coaches and five of them are athletes as well.”

The Lesotho National Olympic Committee (NOC) and World Rowing has been working with local leaders to help establish the federation. World Rowing has helped in the donation of ergometers to get activities started and along with Ndlovu, Mpumi Geza have been acting as World Rowing Coach Educators.

“In cooperation with the National Federation and NOC we envision to prepare a team of athletes, coaches and officials to be able to host a rowing competition in the 2026 Youth African Games and have a strong team to compete for this event and other events going forward,” says World Rowing development director Daniela Gomes.

“World Rowing has been in close contact ever since 2019 and completed the first visit in March 2020, just preceding the covid-19 pandemic,” adds Gomes. “Our main objectives were to make initial contact and help the Federation to set up their ergometers and discuss basic safety consideration, review the boat storage and identify the core group of coaches and athletes who will be involved as well as the most appropriate initial training location.”

Additionally, World Rowing Coach Educators and the South Africa Rowing Federation have prepared a donation of six singles and one double to enable the Lesotho Federation to start a programme once all safety issues are reviewed.

The second visit, delayed due to the pandemic, is happening at present and it includes plans to transport the boats as well as looking at the next steps. The plan is to deliver a Technical Coach Course with Olympic Solidarity to develop coaches, umpires and start working with a small group of athletes.

“The media has been very helpful in bringing exposure to the sport,” says Ndlovu. “They’ve done interviews with me, which helped make the sport known to the Basotho people. There`s also a PR campaign run by the Lesotho Rowing Federation that travels to high schools across the country and advocates water safety and rowing to Basotho children.”

Ndlovu says the biggest hurdle is the stigma surrounding water. “There`s a strong fear of drowning, which prevents parents from encouraging children to join rowing and adults from exploring water sports. Once safe water practices and swimming competency is established in Lesotho, it will be much easier attracting membership.

“Lesotho has all the advantages to be a great rowing nation. It has altitude and long, clean, beautiful stretches of water. I`m really looking forward to building the federation up and bringing Lesotho rowing onto the world stage,” says Ndlovu.

A final word to remember coach Mpumi Geza. “He is deeply missed by our team on the ground and will be remembered for his valuable support to this project since 2019.” says Daniela Gomes, World Rowing’s Development Director.