LeFA shocked by “looming” Kick4Life withdrawal
Leemisa Thuseho THE Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) says it has been left frustrated by reports that Kick4Life Juventude is considering declining promotion to the Premier League. The Old Europa-based outfit secured promotion to the topflight after winning the 2025/26 A Division League South Stream title. While many football followers had already congratulated... The post LeFA shocked by “looming” Kick4Life withdrawal appeared first on Lesotho Times.
Black News 
Leemisa Thuseho
THE Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) says it has been left frustrated by reports that Kick4Life Juventude is considering declining promotion to the Premier League.
The Old Europa-based outfit secured promotion to the topflight after winning the 2025/26 A Division League South Stream title.
While many football followers had already congratulated the club on its achievement, the situation has taken an unexpected turn after Kick4Life informed LeFA that it wished to discuss its future following the promotion.
Should the club ultimately decide not to take up its place in the Premier League, it would not be the first time it has withdrawn from the country’s top-flight competition.
After earning its maiden Premier League promotion in 2014, Kick4Life competed in the top division until 2022, when it withdrew its senior men’s team to focus on its development programmes, including boys’ and girls’ youth teams as well as its senior women’s side.
At the time, the organisation cited the high costs of running a top-flight team. It also argued that competing in a professional league could jeopardise the amateur status of its players and affect their eligibility for overseas scholarships, particularly in the United States.
Kick4Life said the decision was aimed at safeguarding its core mission of helping young players secure scholarships at elite international institutions.
Over the years, the club has facilitated opportunities for players to study and play abroad, including at universities in the United States and through its partnership with Wrexham University in the United Kingdom.
The club is reportedly advancing similar arguments as it weighs whether to accept its latest promotion.
However, Kick4Life Communications and Marketing Officer, Lerotholi Phatela, insisted the club had not officially withdrawn from the Premier League.
“There is no official communication stating that we are withdrawing from competing in the Premier League,” Phatela told the Lesotho Times yesterday.
“The letter we wrote was simply requesting a meeting to discuss a way forward based on our current situation. Once those discussions have taken place, we will release an official statement.”
The development has nevertheless irked LeFA, which says the uncertainty is affecting preparations for both the A Division and Premier League competitions.
LeFA secretary-general, Mokhosi Mohapi, said the association was surprised by Kick4Life’s latest position, particularly after previous discussions in which the club had reportedly committed itself to remaining within the league structures.
“We had meetings before where they assured us that they would continue competing. We were therefore surprised to receive this latest communication,” Mohapi said.
He said Kick4Life should not be allowed to continue disrupting the smooth running of the league and that the matter needed to be resolved once and for all.
“There are already recommendations in place that will help bring this issue to an end.
“Kick4Life also needs to decide exactly what it wants to be and make that position clear.”
The matter is expected to be discussed further between LeFA and Kick4Life as both parties seek a solution that protects the interests of local football.
Many within football circles believe that allowing clubs to repeatedly withdraw after earning promotion could set a dangerous precedent. They argue that clubs are expected to honour the outcomes of competitions and promotion structures, as withdrawals can disrupt league planning, fixture scheduling, sponsorship commitments and the overall integrity of the football pyramid.
The post LeFA shocked by “looming” Kick4Life withdrawal appeared first on Lesotho Times.
