Uplifting spirits in Lesotho through sports coaching

In one of the world’s smallest countries, a young coach with a big heart is bringing the spirit of competition to athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Meet Mickey

Hello! My name is Mpho Margaret Makatsela, known as Mickey, I am 23 years old and I joined Special Olympics Lesotho in May 2019. I live in Nazareth, in the rural areas of Maseru and I have been leading a sub-program in my community since then.

As a young coach and program leader, it is my utmost responsibility to see to it that people with intellectual disabilities are treated with equal respect and dignity they deserve as human beings. I work tirelessly in my community to uproot the stigma and discrimination people with intellectual disabilities are encountering and advocate for inclusion.

The reason why I am fully supporting the Special Olympics movement is because I believe it’s for a good cause, and as a Christian I believe we are all equal despite of our abilities.

Engaging people with intellectual disabilities in sports has uplifted the athletes’ confidence and spirit. I include them in decision making during our training sessions by asking them to raise their views, opinions and ideas; these makes them feel valued in the society.

This athlete-oriented approach has developed good relations between me, my athletes and their families. Hence why they sometime decide to play customary games like “mokou” with their peers without intellectual disabilities.

I always carry water to our sessions and sometimes a few snacks. One of my athletes always reminds me of our training session every time we meetand she would even force me to make a few squats, lunges and jumping jacks right on the spot no matter, where we are or what time it is.

These good relations with my athletes made it easy for me to identify two athletes who are really in need, when the Special Olympics Lesotho office was donating food parcels to needy athletes during COVID-19.