Mapulane Phohleli

Mapulane Phohleli

Mapulane Phohleli is known for her dedication to the empowerment of women and girls through the power of sports. She is the Founder and President of Motšeeo Football Club, a non-profit entity birthed in the Kingdom of Lesotho, which includes every woman from any background, culture, or social standing. “At Motšeeo FC, we strongly believe that 

sporting activities have enormous power to generate real social, economic, and environmental change, contributing to sustainable development, social cohesion, and changing mindsets and prejudices,” she states. The club brings global women together to exchange ideas on improving life for all, emancipating women from all walks of life, and extending a helping hand to marginalised and vulnerable women and children in communities using the power of sports for social development and peacebuilding. Mot’seeo FC has representation in different countries including India, Canada, Brazil, USA, South Africa, Uganda, Austria and has also partnered with global united FC from Germany. Mapulane also plays for the team under her football name “Freeze.” An avid sports enthusiast, she also trained in Taekwondo and played tennis growing up and is a self-taught swimmer. She authored “Overcome Aqua-Phobia” which is about learning to swim in 27 simple steps. To date, she has taught swimming to many Lesotho nationals, earning the affectionate nickname “Dolphin.” She has also designed a swimwear line for all body types for both women and children, customized according to their needs. Training, education, and inclusive empowerment have always been her passions. “Our vision is to engage children globally, across social standings, to challenge negative gender stereotypes and misconceptions of what it means to be a woman. We aim to teach women and children of all cultures that their place is where they want it to be. If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. The player scores the goal, but the team wins,” she adds. Her charitable efforts have had a lasting impact on society, serving as a reminder of the importance of giving back. Mapulane sees socio-economic contexts in holistic ways, hyphenating sports as an agent of change. She ardently believes that sports training can create  “champions mindset” in the youth, especially girls. Since girls tend to get left out from outdoor activities during their formative years, they miss out on the opportunities of building self belief and self confidence through the power of outdoor activities and sports. Embedding sports in the psyche of society is essential in order to build support and momentum at the grassroots for more girls to participate in sports. Mapulane thus leads a range of other initiatives to enlist community trust and support. A notable initiative is enabling economic opportunities for local farmers, by buying their produce and providing market linkage. This exposure led to the creation of Khora Food Market, a symbiotic relationship between consumer and farmer, cutting unnecessary steps to market. She continues to engage with communities at all levels through her constant reinvention and innovation for socio-economic development, all geared toward building a better future for girls and youth. In leadership, she exudes confidence, understanding public value, and engaging local communities with ease. Her humility and servant leadership elevate her, enabling interactions with people of all levels. Family means the world to her, and fostering happy families is a pillar she stands for. She envisages the world as one family, believes in making the world a better place, and wishes to empower young women with a sense of belonging and competence, as developed in sports. She encourages all to engage in sporting activities, and believes that the world can have more peace and solidarity with our greater collective commitment to sports.