MOSCOW, Russia (June 20, 2014) – Preparing to compete in a world championship is intimidating for any athlete. But just imagine how more intimidating it must be if you have never travelled abroad before in your life – and if you only have three months training in the sport in question.
This is the challenge facing Lydia Masole Pitso, 18, and Phoofolo Mokhethi, 16, who both hail from the southern African country of Lesotho, as they prepare for the 5th World Para-Taekwondo Championships in Moscow, Russia.
The two teens both suffer from dual upper limb disabilities, and both attend the country’s Saint Angelo’s School. It is there that they were scouted by coach John Moorasama Nkesi, who told them about what taekwondo means.
“ I told them they should not be ashamed of themselves, that they are training to defend themselves, and that they should have a high standard of discipline,” Nkesi said. “If you are equipped with this skill, you can beat all the challenges in the world.”
The two were won over. “I was so happy to be involved in taekwondo, I did not think that one day I would be among it,” said Mokhethi. “It is so glamorous!” added Pitso, who also plays ladies’ football. “It’s the game I like the most.”
The athletes, whose air tickets to Moscow were sponsored by the World Taekwondo Federation, were on their first trip abroad. Despite their inexperience, their coach is adamant that they are both in with a chance of taking home medals.
“They started in the second week of April,” he said. “You won’t believe them now!
That is no bluster. The view is backed up by a taekwondo athlete with two decades of experience, who observed the two thwacking away at kick pads as they trained in preparation for the championship - and were astonished at how short their training histories were.
In the future, Mokhethi hopes to become a taekwondo coach, while Pitso harbours ambitions of being a soldier. But first they face a trial by fire: Their first international championship. Given their relative inexperience, are they worried?
“I am concerned,” Mokhethi admits. Pitso, however, is quietly determined to make her mark.
“Most people say, ‘You should not be able to play,’” she said firmly. “But we try to do our best to do all the same that others can do.”
