By: Dr Clifford Molefe
The journey of Lesotho national cricket player Mpiti Lerotholi is a story of determination, growth and passion for the game. From humble beginnings at school level to representing Lesotho on the international stage, Lerotholi continues to establish himself as one of the country’s promising cricket talents.
Lerotholi began playing cricket in 2012 while he was a student at Thetsane High School. He credits his early development to coaches Mosito Mafanti and Bokang Koetle, who introduced him to the fundamentals of cricket, including batting, bowling, fielding and other basic skills of the game. “At that time they were coaches at Thetsane High School and they taught me how to hold a cricket bat, bowl and field properly,” said Lerotholi.
He started his cricket journey primarily as a bowler and quickly demonstrated his potential. In 2013, at only 16 years of age, he was promoted to play for Bails Cricket Club, a move that marked the beginning of his competitive cricket career. In 2015, Lerotholi played his first Lesotho Cricket League tournament with Bails Cricket Club. Although the team lost the final to Lerotholi Polytechnic Cricket Team, Lerotholi’s outstanding bowling performances earned him the Best Bowler of the Tournament award. “That award motivated me to continue playing because I was only 17 years old competing against much older players,” he reflected.
The same year, Lerotholi joined Lerotholi Polytechnic, where he played until 2022. It was during this period that he evolved from being a specialist bowler into a reliable all-rounder. Due to a shortage of batsmen in the team, management decided to give him an opportunity as an opening batsman — a decision that would shape his cricket career “The team took a risk by allowing me to open the batting and I performed well. I continued opening in the next matches and that is how I became an opening batsman,” he explained.
His consistent performances eventually earned him a call-up to the Lesotho national cricket team in 2022. Lerotholi made his international debut on 17 November 2022 during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier A match against Mali. He made an immediate impact by being named Player of the Match in his debut encounter. Since then, he has continued to represent Lesotho in several international competitions and bilateral series.
In March 2024, he featured in a bilateral series against Eswatini, before competing again in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Qualifier Africa A held in Tanzania in September 2024. More recently, in March 2026, he represented Lesotho in a bilateral series against Botswana. As his career continues to grow, Lerotholi remains an inspiring figure for young cricketers in Lesotho, proving that dedication, discipline and perseverance can open doors to international cricket opportunities.
