HAVING previously served in two prominent sports administration boards, Sebajoa Sebajoa, a former high school sports master at Fobane High School in Leribe has garnered a wealth of experience that makes him one of the most revered sports administrators in Lesotho.
sports
Sept. 24, 2021
TEBOHO JAFETA
5 min read
The industrious cricket manager, Sebajoa Sebajoa
Former Lesotho Cricket Association President, Sebajoa Sebajoa
Story highlights
He facilitated implementation of ICC pilot project in Lesotho
Received award for hosting best COSSASA ball games in 2007
He is the former President of the Lesotho Cricket Association (LCA) after losing to Mohlouoa Sepolo during the association’s elective annual general meeting on Saturday, September 18.
Sebajoa, 51, a high school teacher by profession is also a qualified sports manager who holds Sports Administration Level One and Two certificates obtained from the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC) in 2001 and 2003, respectively.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education obtained from the National University of Lesotho (NUL) in 1992.
As a sports administrator, the no-nonsense teacher represented Lesotho at a Strategic Planning workshop held in Seychelles from October 15-17, 2018.
The conference was a follow-up to the resolutions made during a meeting in Kenya earlier that year, which he also attended.
As LCA boss, he secured a car sponsorship, a Nissan Note worth M37 000 from Auto Group Motor Dealers, which was handed over to the association earlier this month.
The car is meant to be used for the cricket body’s operational and logistical affairs.
Sebajoa also facilitated the implementation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) pilot project, which among others establishes hubs in Africa as a way of developing the sport from the grassroots level.
Lesotho will be the first country on the continent to benefit from the project through the establishment of hubs in Maseru, Butha-Buthe, Mohale’s Hoek, Leribe and Berea.
Born on September 10, 1970, Sebajoa Sebajoa is the son of the late Tsantsabane and ’Masebajoa Sebajoa of Likotopong, Bela-Bela, in Berea.
He is a first born in the family of five children, four boys and a girl bred in the rural village of Bela-Bela.
After he completed his primary education at Bela-Bela Primary School, he studied at Holy Names High School where he completed in 1987.
He was a strong volleyball player during high school days and a regular in the school senior team in the Lesotho Institutes Sport Association (LISA) Games.
His teaching career which spans about three decades began at St Philomena Secondary School in Leribe from 1992 to 1993.
In 1994, he moved to Paul VI High School in Mohale’s Hoek where he remained until February 2007. He also served as a Sports Master at the school.
Additionally, he served as the teachers' representative in the school board. He taught English Literature and Development Studies (DS) during his three-year stay at the school.
In March, 2007, he moved to Cana High School in Berea where he taught DS. He also became Head of Department of Social and Commercial Studies. He further served as the teachers' representative at the school during that time.
He left in 2013 and joined Fobane High School the following year. He still teaches DS and serves as Head of Department of Languages and Social Studies. He also serves as the teachers' representative in the school board.
Between 2000 and 2001, he was the Secretary General of the Southern Zone B of LISA before being elected as LISA Vice President the same year, a position he held until 2006.
Later that year, he became LISA President and served until 2009. He was also elected as Assistant Secretary of LCA in 2006 before he became Secretary General from 2007 until 2009.
He was elected as LCA President in 2010 and served until 2012 before he was re-elected to the same position in 2017 until September this year.
“I developed an interest in cricket in 1996 after attending an introductory course in Mohale’s Hoek.
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“Growing up in a rural village, I did not know about role models. But I was inspired by my late father who believed in me and later by my former high school teacher, the late Dr Lehlohonolo Phafoli. I cannot forget my childhood neighbour and friend, Setho Moremoholo who has always been there for me,” Sebajoa recalls.
When the senior women cricket team was barred from participating at the 2018 Africa Qualifiers held in Zimbabwe, his pride took a serious knock.
The ICC criterion stipulates that in order to qualify for participation, a country must have at least 10 senior teams in the domestic league and at the time, Lesotho had only eight.
As a result, the team’s non-participation affected the country’s standing in Africa.
Sebajoa cherishes hosting the Confederation of Schools Sports Associations for Southern Africa (COSSASA) Ball Games in Lesotho in 2007.
“LCA organised the best event ever in the history of the games in those days and I received an award from COSSASA for a job well done,” he says.
His former colleague from LISA, Makhaola Serake describes him as a straightforward, principled, democratic and liberal person.
“We started working together at LISA in 2001 when he was the Secretary General. He listens to people and respects their opinions. He also respects majority decisions,” he adds.
Another former colleague, from LCA, Gregory Ramaketekete describes him as a dedicated and highly determined gentleman.
“He had a good and clear vision for LCA. He is an opinionated person with great leadership skills and can be an asset to the country,” he says.
Sebajoa is married with five children, three boys and two girls. Apart from cricket, he enjoys reading, researching and rambling (hiking).
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